Everton have their Champions League destiny in their own hands after destroying Arsenal, and I believe Roberto Martinez will now guide his team into the top four.

Martinez has infused his Everton squad with confidence, desire and a readiness to be bold, and they now have the momentum to overhaul Arsenal and claim fourth position over the final weeks of the campaign.

While Everton were brilliant on Sunday, Arsenal were so abysmal you cannot see where they will win another away game.

However, while Arsenal’s frailties have been well documented, Everton and Martinez deserve enormous credit for the manner of the club’s return to prominence.

When Martinez was in charge of Wigan Athletic, he oversaw lengthy losing runs and there were times when his team’s defensive naivety suggested a fault line in his prospects of succeeding at a top club.

But he has gone to Everton and inherited a very good squad from David Moyes, made it better and encouraged his players to be more adventurous.

When Everton were drawing 2-2 with Liverpool at Goodison last November, Martinez went for broke in the final 20 minutes of the game by making attacking substitutions in an attempt to win the game.

It ultimately ended 3-3 and turned out to be one of the best Merseyside derbies for years, but Martinez’s decision to go all out to win the game has been cited as an example of the key difference between his approach and Moyes’, with the Scot more likely to have closed the game down at 2-2.

Yet, despite some suggestions that Everton are now better without Moyes in charge, the reality is that he left Everton on an even keel when he took the Manchester United job and handed Martinez the priceless commodity of an excellent defence.

Martinez has recruited well, however, and the two loan signings of Gareth Barry and Romelu Lukaku have given Everton class and reliability in midfield and goals up front.

He has also benefited from the development and growing maturity of Seamus Coleman and Ross Barkley, who both made breakthroughs under Moyes.

Working with better players than he had at Wigan is another factor in Martinez’s success at Goodison. When better players are in possession, they are more comfortable on the ball than less able players and, as a result, take fewer chances or risks. Because Everton’s players are better than Wigan’s, there has been very little kamikaze football at Goodison this season.

Everton have undoubtedly become a more adventurous team under Martinez and that was borne out by the way they tore Arsenal apart on Sunday.

They were quicker to the ball, had a better structure and were more determined. They were well worthy of the victory and showed real panache.

It was also evident how Everton’s players are totally prepared to play for their manager and accept his decisions. You never see or hear any sign of dissent or disgruntlement at Everton and, when Martinez leaves players out, they are then prepared to run through brick walls for him when they eventually get back on the pitch.

Their top-four hopes may yet rest on beating Manchester City at Goodison next month — a result which could hand Liverpool the title — but there is so much money and prestige involved in the Champions League now that I do not believe any Evertonian would even blink at that prospect. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alan Hansen played in defence for Partick Thistle, Liverpool and Scotland from 1973-1991. With Liverpool he won the league title eight times, the FA Cup twice, the League Cup three times and the European Cup three times.

Everton are fifth in the table, a rung below, and a point behind Arsenal in fourth. They last played in the Champions League in 2005, but crashed out of the qualifying rounds before the main tournament.

Their remaining league fixtures

Apr 12 - Sunderland (away)

Apr 17 - Crystal Palace (home)

Apr 20 - Man Utd (home)

Apr 26 - Southampton (away)

May 4 - Man City (home)

May 11 - Hull (away)