We’ll kick on after Arsenal win, says Everton’s Leighton Baines

Leighton Baines has heaped praise on the fighting spirit of his Everton teammates, after they came from behind to beat Arsenal earlier this week.

Baines, who has penned a new contract with Ronald Koeman’s men, says the team has taken a lot of confidence from Tuesday’s win at Goodison Park.

Alexis Sanchez’s deflected free-kick gave Arsenal the lead, but Seamus Coleman headed home Baines’ teasing cross to level before half-time.

And the Toffees snatched all three points when Ashley Williams headed in late on.

Everton host Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Monday, and Baines is confident the morale-boosting victory over the Gunners can act as a catalyst for more success.

Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

“Sometimes the manner of a win, the fighting spirit we showed, is as pleasing as anything,” said Baines.

“We had to roll our sleeves up, especially at the end. Arsenal are in top form and they are a good side at any point of the season.

“But it was a great win for us and we needed it. We had to hang on but everyone put a shift in. We are delighted.

“Sometimes you have a period where you don’t win games and your confidence seeps out of you as a team. But that win will put a lot of confidence back into us.

“We had a good talk amongst each other during the week and you saw the reaction on Tuesday night.

“It was a positive result to build us back up again ahead of the derby. It gets the feel-good factor back.

“If you win a game comfortably that’s great, but we take a lot more from the manner in which we won the game against Arsenal.”