UPBEAT Mikel Arteta believes Everton’s dramatic FA Cup derby victory has given them a surge of confidence that they can reach Wembley.

But the Spaniard accepts beating Liverpool will mean nothing if Aston Villa are not defeated in the next round.

Dan Gosling’s late, late extra-time goal gave Everton a 1-0 win over their neighbours on Wednesday night in their FA Cup fourth round replay.

It was the first time David Moyes’s side had beaten one of the five teams above them in the Premier League table in almost two years, a winless run that stretched for 24 games. But Everton emerged unbeaten from their derby treble and Arteta is convinced the Goodison outfit can capitalise on the momentum that has been generated by their memorable Cup triumph, particularly given the growing list of absentees.

“We put in some strong performances against Liverpool in the last three games,” says the Spanish schemer. “Not to lose in those games and to beat them in the FA Cup without conceding any goals is such a big thing for us.

“It was important to get a win against one of those ‘top’ teams, but what was more important was the manner in which we did it.

“Felli was struggling from the start with a back injury, then Steven Pienaar had to go off. To play like that without any strikers, without players who are 100%, it shows great credit to the players and the staff.

“It wasn’t probably the nicest game to play in or watch because there was a lot of emotion and pressure on it.

“You could feel the emotion on the pitch – especially as I thought I would be one of the ones taking a penalty, so towards the end that was adding a bit more pressure!”

Infamously, after beating Liverpool in the fifth round their last FA Cup meeting 18 years ago, Everton were promptly dumped out in quarter-finals by West Ham United.

And Arteta adds: “It’s important to beat Villa in the next round because if we don’t do that then beating Liverpool will have been for nothing.