Arteta desperate for Euro berth

Published Apr. 27, 2010 3:11 a.m. ET

foxsports

Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta is determined to fight to the end in the quest to win a Europa League place.

Time is running out for the Toffees despite a superb late season charge that has seen them lose just twice in their last 22 Premier League games.

The Merseysiders now have just two games remaining - against Stoke and Portsmouth - but still trail seventh-placed arch-rivals Liverpool by five points.

Arteta told the club's website: "We are pushing hard but the other teams are making it really difficult for us.

"There was a big gap between us and them about 10 games ago but we have done well to get this close.

"If we win our last two games we know we have an outside chance of getting back into Europe. But we also know we have to wait and see what Liverpool do."