Arteta has high hopes

Toffees midfielder aims to finish in the top four or five

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 31st December 2008

Arteta has high hopes

Arteta: Aiming high

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Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta believes the Toffees should be aiming for a top four finish after their recent good run of form.

Arteta scored twice as Everton defeated Sunderland 3-0 on Boxing Day in what was only the club's second home win of the season.

Wins over Middlesbrough and Manchester City either side of a credible draw against Chelsea, prior to the clash with Sunderland, sees the club nicely placed in sixth position.

David Moyes' men are only three points behind Arsenal and six behind Aston Villa in fourth.

The Spaniard, who has recently been linked with a January move to Arsenal to replace the injured Cesc Fabregas, has been impressed with the football the team have been playing.

Confident

"In the last few games, we have played the best football for years," he told the Daily Express.

"Everybody is confident and everybody wants the ball. We have to keep playing the way we have been, not conceding goals first of all. That is what has worked for us.

"If we can keep that up we know we have the players to score goals. We have five strikers and they are all injured. But the lads up front Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill have been terrific.

"They fight for every ball and they like to play together too. They put other teams in trouble because they are so strong and because they can head the ball and hold the ball up and that makes life easier for the other players.

"We haven't been good at home this season. But we know how important it's going to be to get a lot of points at home if we are fighting for the top four or five."