Aiden McGeady believes Everton must go for a top four finish next season.
McGeady, who joined the club from Spartak Moscow in January, is confident they can split the big boys next time around after launching new manager Roberto Martinez's tenure in style.
He said: "It was in our own hands and we slipped up.
"We beat Arsenal at home and then we lost to Palace, we lost to Southampton, games that we should have won or we should be winning if we want to be in the top four.
"But ultimately those two defeats cost us and Arsenal went on and won every single one of their games, so in the end they deserved to be there.
"But we were challenging the top four, so the challenge next season is to go one better and get into that top four.
"With the squad we have got there, the manager and the backroom staff, the potential that the players have got, especially seeing as how many of the players are 22, 23, 24, young players, that's got to be our aim."
