Source: Telegraph
Phil Jagielka hopeful Everton can grab Champions League place
Everton controlled large portions of the game at Goodison Park and looked to have put themselves within just two League points of their opponents thanks to a second-half finish from Tim Cahill, but Robin Van Persie scored in the last minute of injury time.[LNB]'Football's a cruel game,' Jagielka said. 'We've been dying to beat one of the top four for a while and tonight should have been the night. I'm as sick as a parrot with the end result but a point's better than nothing. It shows how far we've come that we're disappointed only to take a point from Arsenal at home.'[LNB]Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, raised eyebrows after the match with his assertion that Everton would be as much of a threat to his side's chances of returning to the Champions League next season as Aston Villa. [LNB]But Jagielka agrees that recent performances have indeed earned Everton the right to be considered as contenders for the top four. 'Yes, definitely,' he said. 'We've been playing well of late.'[LNB]The club have sustained a number of injuries, knocking their strike options for six, but they have addressed their offensive frailties head on and Cahill, has adapted well to his new role as emergency striker - scoring four goals in eight appearances.[LNB]However, the Australian limped off on Wednesday night, having taken a kick to the inside of an ankle. He underwent an X-ray on Thursday morning and is awaiting the results.[LNB]David Moyes, the Everton manager, is desperately hoping that the damage is minimal because attempts to secure two loan deals have fallen through.[LNB]Everton face Manchester United on Saturday , which will be another chance to state their case for pressing for a top-four finish.[LNB]'As it is we now have to go and make up for lost ground from Wednesday and we've got a hard trip away at Old Trafford,' Jagielka said. 'We did well there last year and hopefully we can get a result.'[LNB]
