Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits it wasn't easy to recover from last week's Champions League defeat at the Emirates.
The Gunners came under heavy fire last week after the unexpected defeat at the hands of Monaco and the Frenchman reveals that "tension was massive" before the weekend game against Everton.
"It was a test of character and it was a mental response that was important," Wenger told the club's official website.
"It was a mental victory to respond to what happened to us on Wednesday night. To win the game is just vital.
"We did it in a very convincing way. We know that we can do better with the ball but we were focused on just winning the game and I like that aspect of the team as well.
"There was a big tension and I can tell you that in the last four days the tension was massive as you can imagine.
"At the end of the day, it's down to the response and the result and I'm convinced that is important and the three points will be vital for our confidence.
"It's tighter and tighter [at the top of the table] and that just shows you that we need the confidence, we need the consistency and we need the focus.
"Everton are a very good side and in the Premier League you can drop points against anybody. It's important that you maintain that kind of focus in the team."
