Rafa Benitez says Everton must employ the same mentality, intensity and spirit that overcame Arsenal this week for a repeat result against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Everton hurdled a series of setbacks on a raucous Goodison Park night on Monday to defeat the Gunners following a crackerjack stoppage-time strike from Demarai Gray.

Sustain his early-season form over the longer term and forward Gray will be vying for England honours, reckons Benitez, who has fit-again Salomon Rondon available for the visit to Selhurst Park.

Everton go to south London aiming for successive Premier League victories after dramatically halting an eight-game winless run.

“It is really important for us to get three points and keep the momentum,” said Benitez.

“We needed to win against Arsenal and the way we won was fantastic. The players gave everything until the last minute and the fans were behind the team all the way.

“It was so positive and I think everyone has had a boost. But we have to take this momentum and mentality and team spirit into the next game. 

“When you are working so hard to win games but not having the luck, or accuracy in the final third, or you make mistakes like we did against Liverpool, you are pushing and pushing and working even harder to try to get the three points in the next game.

“The game [Arsenal] was massive in every sense because everybody was working so hard and was together and we won.

“It was another confirmation this team has the spirit and when we stick together, we are stronger.”

Gray will aim to add to tallies of five goals and two assists from 14 Premier League starts against manager Patrick Vieira’s Palace.

Of summer 2021 signings across the top-flight, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Emmanuel Dennis of Watford have more direct goal involvements than Gray, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen on the eve of the campaign.

“I knew about his quality and potential for a while and was following him,” said Benitez.

“Sometimes, it is the right moment with the manager [that releases player’s potential].

“I trusted him and he trusted me and he is playing at a good level.

“I am always telling him to carry on working as hard as he is and be more consistent.

“If he can do those things, he is a potential player for the England team.

“With his quality and ability, he can be a really good player for us and the national team.”

Benitez, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, was quizzed on the return of measures to limit the spread of coronavirus.

The topic is pertinent in football after an outbreak at Tottenham Hotspur led to the postponement of the Londoners’ scheduled trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

“We have seen some games and clubs affected by it and must be sure we are doing what we have to,” said Benitez.

“This busy time, Christmas, is always very complicated because there are so many games.

“The only thing we can do is try to be sure we socially distance, wash our hands, wear masks and tell the players what they have to do.”

Benitez remains unable to report a clean bill of health for his squad but the situation is improving.

Striker Rondon is available after recovering from the issue that forced him off in this month's Merseyside derby, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is “getting closer” to a return.

Midfielder Allan, meanwhile, completed “half a training session” on Friday.

Benitez can call on Abdoulaye Doucoure and Andre Gomes again with that midfield pair among the handful of players increasingly finding full condition following injuries.

The former Napoli boss, however, is open about ongoing discussions at the Club aimed at recruiting next month.

“I believe we ran more [against Arsenal] than in four years, so the team are physically at a good level," added Benitez.

“We know more or less what we want [in terms of player additions]. The point is always to get what you want because January is a difficult window. We are trying to focus on the games we have now, and then we will keep an eye on the January transfer window.”