STEVE ROUND insists no-one in the Everton camp is surprised that they have finished the year in the top six of the Premier League – with a Champions League place remaining their ambition for 2009.

Yesterday’s 3-0 success over Sunderland leaves them in an ideal position to strike for another European qualification after picking up six points in three days against north-east opposition.

The 1-0 win at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day was followed up by an emphatic display against Sunderland, with Mikel Arteta scoring twice in the first half before Dan Gosling scored his first for the club with seven minutes left.

Failure to win would have left Everton reaching the December 31 stage of a season with only one home victory for the first time in their history. But despite that poor run at Goodison and a chronic injury list, David Moyes’s side have maintained their place in the upper reaches of the table.

And Round said: “I think the manager, the team and the club as a whole feel we are where we deserve to be.

“It’s not a bonus – we feel we should always be challenging for that position and when the form wasn’t quite as good at the start of the season there was a real desire and determination to push forward.

“And we’re starting to get the rewards for the hard work we have put in.

“The top six has always been a target at Everton and always will be. If we can get in the top six, can we then get in the Champions League? That is the ambition of the club.

“Sometimes we might not quite get there and have to consolidate in fifth or sixth but it won’t be through lack of trying or lack of ambition.

“Obviously we haven’t got the finances to compete with other teams in the Premier League but we keep trying with organisation, spirit and quality when we can.”

Arteta scored as many goals against Sunderland as he had previously done in the whole campaign, taking his tally to four.

His first was hammered past Marton Fulop from a direct free-kick and a set-piece also gave him his second, although he needed two attempts at it after his first effort struck the wall, then his second was helped in by a deflection.

Round admits scoring goals are a vital part of Arteta’s game despite his struggle to find the target, but he felt the overall contribution of the Spaniard was even more satisfying.

“We are pleased with his performance in midfield,” added Round. “Especially in the second half when the energy of both teams was dipping a bit. He came to the fore and controlled the game and the tempo, and made the passes we know he can.

“He’s never really been a prolific scorer, but that was one of his targets from the start of this season, to score more goals. We know he can create and assist, that is his number one priority but to get the goals on top of that is a challenge for him to take on board.

“If we play Phil Neville sitting in he can get up and get more opportunities but sometimes Mikel has to sit in and get on the ball and dictate the game so it depends on what sort of role he is in.”

Round also revealed the reception Everton’s other scorer Gosling received when he retreated to the dressing room.