Ronald Koeman believes Everton are capable of finishing above both Manchester United and Arsenal this season.
Both sides sit above Koeman’s side in the Premier League table and have two games in hand, but the Gunners could potentially be leapfrogged this weekend.
Arsenal have no top-flight game due to facing Manchester City in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley while the Blues will travel to West Ham tomorrow.
A seventh-place finish will effectively guarantee Europa League football for Everton, who have a 13-point advantage over closest challengers West Brom.
But Koeman sees no reason why his side cannot secure a potential top five finish.
He said: “It’s okay if people talk about Arsenal and Man United – the name is a bigger one but not how they play.
“We are showing that you can give good competition to the strong teams, the big teams, when they are not having a fantastic season.
“At Southampton last year we finished with 63 points. That’s incredible. It’s incredible that we have the same points now as Arsenal but that’s football.
“It’s not about money. It’s about players, the team, organisation, about spirit, about belief and the best team who showed all that last season was Leicester City, and much better than we are doing this season.
“But it is possible and that gives confidence to all the rest of the teams that you can give competition.”