• Premier League

Moyes not giving up on Champions League

ESPN staff
April 17, 2013
David Moyes insists finishing in one of the European spots will be a great achievement © Getty Images
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David Moyes will be satisfied if Everton qualify for next season's Europa League - but is refusing to give up on a Champions League spot.

Moyes acknowledged that his side needed to win at Arsenal on Tuesday night to strengthen their push for a top-four Premier League finish.

A feisty 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium has left Everton in sixth place - only two points behind Chelsea in fourth, but having played two games more.

It leaves Moyes' men with little margin for error as they prepare for a trip to relegation-threatened Sunderland on Saturday.

But he believes the fact that they are even in contention for a top-four finish at such a late stage of the season is a remarkable achievement for a club whose resources are relatively limited.

Moyes told the Liverpool Echo: "I would take a Europa League place now. But I'm going to try to get a Champions League spot. If we're still getting that mention in mid-April, it's not bad for Everton."

Tuesday's draw means Everton are unbeaten in six league matches, a run that has seen them take points against three of the five sides above them.

Having beaten Manchester City at Goodison Park on March 16, they drew 2-2 at Tottenham on April 7 before taking a point at Arsenal.

Left-back Leighton Baines believes that is a sign of the spirit that could take Everton into the Champions League.

He told the Echo: "You look at it and how we have played away from home against a top team like that. Then against the other top sides we've had good results at home.

"We've taken points off a lot of the teams who will finish in the Champions League positions. I don't think anyone will particularly enjoy playing against us at any level."

Moyes, meanwhile, felt Everton were good value for their point, even though they were accused by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger of going "over the edge" in their physical approach.

Wenger believed that midfielder Darron Gibson, who has already been booked, should have been sent off for a foul on Theo Walcott.

But asked about Wenger's comments, Moyes said: "Do you mean when we were a little bit rough with the tackling? Up north we do that quite often. That's actually allowed in football.

"We weren't going to come here and let Arsenal stroke the ball around and make 600 passes. Arsene was upset. I thought we made it a right good game."

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