Mikel Arteta challenged his Arsenal players to be relentless in their bid for the Premier League title after they moved five points clear of Manchester City, declaring: "We're not going to stop".
Gabriel Martinelli's brace, coupled with goals from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, helped Arsenal crush struggling Everton 4-0 in their game in hand over rivals City on Wednesday.
While Arsenal started slowly against Sean Dyche's side, they eventually turned on the style to win their third league game in a row – and claim their 100th league victory against Everton.
The Gunners' commanding win puts daylight between them and second-placed City – who briefly overhauled them at the summit following a 3-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium last month.
Asked whether Arsenal's thrashing of Everton made them title favourites, Arteta said: "You know my answer there!
"What I like is that everybody has the enthusiasm to do it, and we're not going to stop that – we have to promote that.
"But the way to promote that is by looking at this game and understanding that we have to do a lot of things better, especially in the first half.
"We can play better and make sure we prepare really well against Bournemouth, because that's going to be a tough game."
Asked how Arsenal could find the mental strength required to beat City to the title, Arteta said: "It is something that we have to train and discuss and build.
"It is not easy, but a lot of time it happens through experiences and most of the time they are experiences that you don't want to go through, but the calendar and fixtures are going to give that.
"Sometimes you are where we are now, sometimes it is three points [difference], two points, minus two – it is going to happen and we have to live with that."
Arsenal take on relegation-threatened Bournemouth in their next game on Saturday, before switching their attentions to a Europa League last-16 tie against Sporting CP.
Al-Nassr 1-1 Al-Hilal: Mitrovic scores last-gasp penalty
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a penalty in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time as Al-Hilal denied Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr victory in a 1-1 draw.
Mitrovic netted his 27th Saudi Pro League goal of the campaign after Sadio Mane was harshly judged to have fouled Saud Abdulhamid in the area.
Mane stuck out an arm to shield the ball, catching his opponent in the throat, though the contact appeared to have been outside of the box.
Mitrovic made no mistake to keep Al-Hilal's unbeaten campaign going.
The Serbian's spot-kick cancelled out Otavio's first-minute opener, with Ronaldo having set up his compatriot.
Champions Al-Hilal remain 12 points clear of Al-Nassr at the summit of the Pro League standings.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo the provider
Ronaldo leads the scoring charts in Saudi Arabia this season, though he had to settle for an assist on Friday.
That came from the only chance he created, with the 39-year-old limited to 25 touches, though he did have four shots.
Arteta hoping old mentor Moyes provides a helping hand in title race
Mikel Arteta and David Moyes have a long history, and the Arsenal boss is hoping the outgoing West Ham manager does him a favour on Sunday.
Arteta was managed by Moyes for over six years during his time at Everton between 2005 and 2011.
And the stars have aligned that Arteta's Arsenal must now defeat the Toffees at Emirates Stadium on the final day of the season to stand a chance of winning the Premier League title.
But while Arsenal must do their job, they also require a favour from Moyes' West Ham, who take on leaders Manchester City. If Pep Guardiola's team win, then the title will be theirs.
The Hammers' trip to the Etihad Stadium also marks Moyes' final game as West Ham's boss, and Arteta wants one more favour from his former mentor.
"He's been instrumental and so important in my career, as a footballer and a person. He could help us to fulfil our dream and my personal dream to win the Premier League," Arteta said.
"The only thing we've discussed is to give ourselves an opportunity to live a beautiful day. It's possible, it's football. We have to play like every single week.
"We have to win, then hope West Ham to help us achieve us our dream. That first part is on us, it's the only thing we can focus on."
Everton, on the other hand, have little but pride - and 15th place - to play for, having already secured their safety.
The club confirmed on Friday that Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young had been offered new contracts, while Everton have also activated a one-year extension to Idrissa Gueye's deal.
Dele Alli's contract is up, but he will remain with Everton's medical staff to continue his rehab, but Andre Gomes, Arnaut Danjuma and Andy Lonergan will leave.
Director of football Kevin Thelwell said Everton will remain in discussions with Leeds United over Jack Harrison's future, with the winger set to return to Elland Road at the end of his loan deal.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal - Gabriel Jesus
Jesus has scored five Premier League goals on MD38, the most of any player currently playing in the competition. The Brazilian also has more Premier League goals against Everton than he does against any other opponent (eight).
Everton - Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Calvert-Lewin is Everton's top scorer in away Premier League games this season with four goals. He has scored in his last two on the road, last netting in three in a row in November/December 2020.
MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WIN
Everton are winless in their last 10 Premier League away games (D4 L6), failing to score more than once in any of these. It is their longest run without an away win under the same manager since a run of 12 under Ronald Koeman between February and October 2017.
Arsenal's 86 points so far is already their third highest in a single Premier League campaign, after their title-winning seasons of 2001-02 (87) and 2003-04 (90). Meanwhile, the Gunners' 89 goals this term is their most in a top-flight campaign since 1963-64 (90).
No side have lost their final game of the Premier League season more often than Everton (14). Arsenal have won their final Premier League game of the season more often than any other side (22, including the last 12 in a row), also having the best win rate in such matches in the competition (71 per cent).
Arsenal have lost just one of their last 27 Premier League home games against Everton (W22 D4), going down 1-0 in April 2021.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Arsenal - 61.9%
Everton - 14.5%
Draw - 23.6%
Arteta hoping for 'something beautiful' as Arsenal target title
Mikel Arteta retains faith that "something beautiful" could occur on Sunday to make Arsenal Premier League champions, despite Manchester City being heavy favourites.
After City's 2-0 win over Tottenham on Tuesday, Arsenal need Pep Guardiola's champions to drop points at home to West Ham to have any chance of leapfrogging them.
The Gunners must also beat Everton, whose 14 final-day losses are the most of any team in Premier League history.
Ahead of Sunday's fixtures, the Opta supercomputer gives Arsenal just a 15.9 per cent chance of becoming champions to City's 84.1 per cent, but Arteta will not give up hope.
Asked how he will assess Arsenal's season if they fall short, Arteta said on Friday: "I can't think like this.
"We have to win the game and we hope something beautiful is going to happen. If I don't believe today, imagine how much I could believe in August!
"From August, 38 games against Man City after what they've done in 12 or 13 years, and what we've done in that time... we can't think like this."
Arsenal have won their final game of the Premier League season more often than any other club, doing so on 22 occasions including the last 12 in a row.
Though many have already written the Gunners off, Arteta says simply ensuring a Premier League trophy will be present at the Emirates Stadium on the final day represents a major success.
"We are on the last day of the season playing for the Premier League trophy, which has not been at the Emirates since it was built 20 years ago," Arteta said.
"The trophy is going to be there, it's possible. We have to do our duty, then hope what happens. Let's wish that's the case."
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