Everton schemer Mikel Arteta believes the Toffees are well placed in the Premier League heading into the Christmas programme.David Moyes' charges are currently seventh in the league, having recorded big away wins at Spurs and Manchester City, either side of a dramatic defeat to Aston Villa.
And Everton now face home clashes with Chelsea and Sunderland over Christmas, those games sandwiching the Boxing Day trip to Middlesbrough.
"We are still in the mix," Arteta told evertonTV. "That (Man City) was a really important game because we could have ended up losing three or four positions.
"As it is we remain close to the top six so hopefully we can keep going and have a good result against Chelsea."
Arteta insisted the 1-0 win at Eastlands was a result the Blues fully deserved.
"We controlled the game, played well and created chances so I think we deserved to win," he said. "We were so happy in the dressing room. The reaction this season has been terrific. Every time we've had a bad game we have reacted as nobody could expect.
"We played great football and then we scored in the last minute. It was beautiful."
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I am an Everton fan and just want to make a fair judgement here. Generally, Villa is playing better as a unit compare to us. However, if we break them down to different areas of play, our American keeper Howard is better than Brad. Defensively, Laursen is good for Villa but overall with Jags, Lescott, Yobo, etc. Everton is better. In the midfield, we are on par though Everton is technically more skillful but Villa pass the ball and work as a unit better.
The major difference is during the attack, with Young supporting Agbonlahor, Villa is dangerous. Not to mention Carew. Everton forward Yak or Saha if fit are great. However, we are lack of pace. And that's the difference.
I am an Everton supporter, and Moyes has always made more out of what he's had to work with than anyone in the Prem. Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar, Jags and Osman have been about his only consistent performers, yet they're in 7th. That's a good return.
As for Villa: Villa is a Superiour team. You could see it in the difference in pace between Agbonlahor & Young and everyone else on the pitch in the Villa-Everton game. As a supporter of a non-big 4, I really do hope Villa can stay healthy and crack the top, break up the monotony if we can't. But Villa's super thinner, maybe even thinner than Everton.
Arteta is prat..!
Better than Villa..... based on what.... watching the recent Villa -v- Everton match?? Agreed Cahill and Arteta are very good players, Everton have won a number of games in the last few minutes and they pressurised Villa for most of the game recently. However Villa have some extremely talented players who are 4th so far this season through great results and no little ability. They have beaten Arsenal, Ajax etc... with some fantastic performances and gained wins where they have had to grind results out as per the Goodison match.
Could Jerry98 be an Everton fan!!!!!!
Haven't seen Everton play so well in years.They are a great team, all of them are playing like Spartans. Moyes is a good Spartacus..Arteta, Cahill, your all great , even against Villa I didnt feel disheartened, but the Man City win was very important...you guys are capable of great achievements..your better than Villa, but O Neill has a magic touch for sure, for sure.Moyes needs some more of his spiritual power, but its beginning to flow..
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