Sean Dyche has opened up on the mentality he aims to instil at Everton ahead of a significant test away to Arsenal.
And the Blues boss has called on his players to weaponise the view in some quarters that they do not stand a chance against the league leaders.
Dyche's reign at Goodison Park started with a deserved 1-0 victory over Arsenal earlier this month. Since then, he has suffered defeats to Liverpool and Aston Villa with a win against Leeds United in between.
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Looking ahead to Wednesday night's trip to the Emirates, Dyche said in his press conference this afternoon: "It's a tough place to go - we know that. It's a long-standing thing Everton haven't done so well there in getting results.
"But as part of your mentality, you want to change that. You go there almost expecting nothing - that in itself is a nice weapon to have. If everyone expects that you are not going to get anything...let's go and get something.
"All these mind dynamics of different variances in football, you can look at each in different ways. For me the glass is always half full.
"That's what I'm looking at. Going down there. Giving a performance. Seeing where it takes us."
Everton have only won one away game all season in the league - a 2-1 triumph over Southampton in October. The Blues have slipped back into the relegation zone, with just 21 points from 24 matches.
Dyche explained how he plans to change that poor record on the road: "It's going into these games with a belief in what we do. Mainly the consistency.
"It's well known that, apart from the pandemic season, most clubs have stronger home form. There are all kinds of scientific reasons.
"But at the end of the day, you can still have good away records by structuring the team, by suggesting the team works in different ways. But mostly the mentality is important.
"You want players to go away from home with a strong jaw and a strong mentality. That's something that we have got to build here. We are in the early processes of doing that.
"It's important to have that edge in your play away from home. At home, the crowd can help give you that edge. But when you are away you have to bring it in through the collective on the pitch. I think that's important."
However, the Toffees manager insists he never goes into an individual game seeing it as a 'free hit'.
Rejecting that theory, he said: "No. I don't personally. But what I'm suggesting is that from the outside - due to the stats and facts, you're going down to Arsenal, they are currently having a terrific season - most people would suggest it's unlikely you will get a result.
"That can in itself bring a bit more freedom to the group, if no-one thinks you are going to do anything.
"But that doesn't mean we don't. We'll be going down there certainly with our eyes on the prize, delivering a performance that can get something. That's the intention from my point of view and that's what I want the players to do."
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