Arsenal Have Broken Psychological Barrier with March Form

Aaron Ramsey believes Arsenal have become mentally tougher after a rollercoaster season and insists the squad are motivated in their desire to trump rivals Tottenham Hotspur to third in the Premier League.

The Gunners recorded their sixth consecutive league victory when they battled to a 1-0 win at Everton on Wednesday. The result at Goodison Park lifts them above London rivals Tottenham for the first time since September.

And Ramsey lauded Arsenal's performance in light of the club's struggles this season. Arsene Wenger's side have endured two notable difficult periods this season, the most recent of which came in January when they lost all three league games against Fulham, Swansea and Manchester United.

"It was great, we battled well and it came off," Ramsey told Arsenal Player. "The back four did a wonderful job and kept a good line. As a team I think we kept our composure and looked very solid so overall we are delighted with the win and hopefully we can keep it going.

"We have proved what we are capable of achieving and how motivated we are to finish third. We are definitely doing that at the moment but we are going about our own business and hopefully we can continue it."

Thomas Vermaelen scored the only goal of the game from a corner as Arsenal dominated the opening half. But a dogged Everton came back strongly after half-time and the Arsenal defence showed great resilience to hold on in the closing stages.

And Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny lauded his team-mates after an outstanding rear-guard display laid the foundations for victory.

"It is not just the four defenders, it is all the team," Koscielny said. "Robin [van Persie] put in a lot of effort to help us too so all of the team defend and we attack together too. We have to take that into the next game.

"We have had some difficult periods this season but we have some good players and a good team. In football it changes quickly and in three or four weeks we have won. We need to keep that and the most important thing is to keep in the top four."