The combination of a new management team and an incredible Goodison Park atmosphere helped Amadou Onana to inspire Everton to victory against Arsenal on Saturday.
The table-topping Gunners came into the match as huge favourites, as the Toffees looked for their first win in the Premier League since October. But under the guidance of new boss Sean Dyche, the Blues chose this match to cover the most distance of any game they've played this season and thanks to a second-half header from James Tarkowski, Mikel Arteta's side left Merseyside empty-handed.
Speaking to Everton's official website about what had changed in order to pull off such a good result, Onana said: "It was a massive performance, a massive win in front of our fans. It's good for the confidence. We won this game because of our mentality and our work ethic. I'm very, very proud of this team.
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"I think it's partly in what the new staff did and what they've brought in. They bring a good energy, a good atmosphere and they've talked about the mentality that we must have out on the pitch. They require the maximum - that is the minimum!"
Onana's and Everton's performance against Arsenal made a mockery of their wretched recent form, igniting Goodison Park to produce the type of electric atmosphere that it built its reputation on.
That level of support is something that the Belgian international admits he thrives on and has helped him settle in since moving to English football in the Summer.
He said: "I think it's obvious [how comfortable I am here]. Everyone can see how much fun I have when I play at Goodison. They give us so much drive and from the bottom of my heart I want to thank them for their support today and the past few months, because I know it's been tough.
"The fans push us to the limit, to our best. They push me to my limit. Their support is massive. I know I've still got a lot to learn, a lot of work to do but I'm very confident and I'm just trying to help the team as much as I can and give my best every week. It starts in training and that's what you see out there."
Alongside Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucoure, Onana covered more ground against Arsenal than any other Everton player has in any game all season.
But when it came to looking forward to the Blues forthcoming trip across Stanley Park to neighbours Liverpool, the 21-year-old was in no mood to get carried away.
He added: "The important thing now is to focus as fast as we can on the next game. You know how football is, you can beat Arsenal then lose the next one so I really want everyone in the team to focus as quickly as possible and prepare well for the next game.
"It's a massive boost. It's a big one for the confidence of the team but now we have Liverpool next. We need to make sure we're ready."
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