Arsene Wenger said he was happy to pick up a point, after another flat performance from Arsenal saw them hang on for a 1-1 draw against Everton in Wednesday's English Premier League game.
Theo Walcott put the Gunners up in the very first minute at Goodison Park, and it looked like Arsenal, who enjoy a good recent record against Everton, would kick on and register a much-needed convincing result.
However, as is the case in recent weeks, Arsenal's defensive errors coupled with their inability to create any real open chances, led to Everton ease their way back into the game, with Marouane Fellaini equalizing midway through the first half.
Everton were good value for the draw, and were even marginally the better side, as they looked the much more threatening team going forward. The draw dropped Arsenal to seventh place, with Tottenham climbing to fifth, past sixth-placed Everton, following their 2-1 win over Liverpool at White Hart Lane.
"Overall, if I look back at the game, it was one of big physical intensity," Wenger said. "We had a good start and after that I felt Everton came back.
"Their direct game was always a threat with Fellaini. We have regrets on the goal we conceded but overall, I believe that 1-1 is a fair result. It's a good point here and it was a game of remarkable intensity.
"We needed to show great spirit today to get a point because they were up for it. I can only say I'm pleased with the effort we have put in the game. Last week, we played Champions League Wednesday night, Saturday at Villa, today at Everton. We have to give a lot and we have some players who play on the edge and hopefully will recover for Saturday."
Wenger insisted his side would improve, as the season wears on, with the manager targeting his side's home form to bring them closer to the top four places.
"At the moment, in the Premier League, we have played 14 games, eight away," he added. "We have played at (both) Liverpool (clubs) and the two Manchester (teams) away from home. If we play well at home, we have a chance to come back.
"We (are building) a new team. We now have Jack Wilshere back. Hopefully we can go from strength to strength. We have the spirit. I feel we have some room for improvement in the final third. Overall, when you have the spirit, you have a chance. We have to show that now. We have to be consistent."
Everton manager David Moyes bemoaned the refereeing decisions that went against his side, with Steven Pienaar denied a penalty after former Everton man Mikel Arteta seemed to bring him down inside the box.
"It was a penalty," Moyes said. "We played Arsenal today, who are a really good team, but we also had very few decisions go for us. Sometimes referee's decisions change the games -- in some games something might go in your favour but we were never going to get that tonight.
"We got nothing whatsoever and anything we were going to get we had to earn on our own because we were not going to get a lot. We found it a difficult night from that point of view but the players played really well throughout."
