Everton fullback Leighton Baines says they cannot use Arsenal's pursuit of Phil Jagielka as an excuse for any slow season start.
The hunt for the England international has similar traits to Manchester's City's chase for Joleon Lescott two years ago, which eventually ended in his £22million sale.
It led to a sluggish start to the campaign and Baines is insisting that whatever the club's transfer activity, the players should not allow themselves to be distracted.
"I thought it was a bit of an excuse that we used," Baines told the Daily Mirror. "Joleon wasn't a bad egg or anything like that.
"It was probably the clubs actually who dragged it out to get the best deal for themselves. But we used it as an excuse at the time - some of us.
"We've spoken about it (starting the season poorly) a lot, but we've just got to do it and stop talking about it. It has been an issue.
"But it's down to us to hit the nail on the head this time. We have to do something about it."
