Ronald Koeman has insisted that there are still plenty of positives for Everton to build on, despite his side slipping to a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Arsenal.
The Toffees have now won just two of their last 13 games in all competitions, losing seven of those, and are in the bottom three of the Premier League.
Everton boss Koeman insists that all hope is not yet lost on the back of another heavy defeat, which he believes came about as a result of Idrissa Gueye's second-half dismissal with one goal in the game at the time.
"The game was over after the sending-off - until that time, we fought really well, defended well, it was 2-1 and after that we lose a man and then it is impossible and then punished us," he told BBC Sport.
"It is a really tough time, the team are not performing well, the position in the table is not the position Everton should be in. Even after today, I see a lot of positives. It is a negative situation for the team, everything is negative, but I am not like that.
"We had a lot of expectation after last season, those expectations not filling in, that makes the situation difficult."
Everton turn their attention to EFL Cup action in midweek when taking on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, before then travelling to Leicester City in the Premier League next weekend.
