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Seamus Coleman has refused to blame fitness levels for Everton’s habit of conceding late goals – but admits they must tighten-up defensively if they are to return to winning ways.

The Blues were pegged back to 2-2 by Arsenal after initially racing into a two-goal lead, and had to be content with another draw despite dominating the game.

They have now allowed three points to slip away in the closing stages of consecutive matches, but the right-back – who scored his side’s second – does not believe stamina is the problem.

He said: “I don’t know. I think we’re as fit as any team – we’ve got a lot of fit lads. We were controlling the game and getting on the ball and passing it but then they got their goal and got their tails up.

“I missed parts of pre-season but I felt fine out there so I don’t think it’s anything to do with stamina or fitness.”

Coleman was pleased to be back on the score-sheet, as he looks to build on his heroics in front of goal from last term, but even that could not bring him much solace in the end.

Everton 2 Arsenal 2 in pictures:

“I’m glad to be back out playing,” he said. “It was unfortunate to get the injury when I did and it was really frustrating to miss the first game of the season.

“So to get off the mark with a goal was great too, and when you’re 2-0 up it’s even better but it kind of feels like a defeat with the way we’ve let it slip. It’s not good enough.

“We were cruising at 2-0 up and in the second half I think we’ve just sat back a bit too much and they’ve got one which has given them momentum. We need to do better as a unit to keep a clean sheet in the last five minutes.”

Despite the sting in the tail, Coleman believes the Toffees can take some positives from the game, when they proved to be a match for an Arsenal side which beat them to fourth place last season, bagged an FA Cup triumph, and won the Community Shield before the start of this campaign.

“We know we can give anyone a game if we all click and get it right for the full 90 minutes,” he said.

“We’re a top, top team and it’s just a matter of doing that now.

“The manager will work with us to cut out those errors and like a top team we need to brush ourselves down and kick on again.”

Coleman scored seven goals as he was named in the PFA Team of the Year last term, while also being declared Everton’s player of the year and players’ player of the year.

He added: “Goals were something I added to my game last year.

“As a player you need to improve every season so I want to continue that and get more, while also setting up a couple more for my team-mates.”