Sean Dyche says he immediately reminded his Everton players of the hard work ahead after praising a superb performance to ensure his reign as Blues boss got off to a dream start with a 1-0 win over Arsenal at Goodison Park.

James Tarkowski's powerful header on the hour mark was the difference, as the Toffees inflicted the first league defeat on the title-chasers since September.

After a busy first week in charge of the Club, Dyche was pleased with the discipline and togetherness on display from his side - and says those two elements provide a perfect platform to build on.

"The performance was really important today because we've tried to cram five weeks of a pre-season into five days," explained Dyche. "If you imagine a pre-season you can leak information into the team slowly but surely as they're getting fitter and sharper. 

"We've had to condense that into a week and give them a lot of information about how we want to go about it, the base we work from, the way we work the team, the commitment, the tactical layers... all of those things. 

"Quality-wise we can build on that but there has to be a base to work from, there has to be a feel of the group and a commitment to the cause and I thought there was plenty of that today.

"I've just said to them that it's a start point, that's all it is. We're laying down the fibre of what we want to be as a group but this is only a start point, no matter who you beat.

"There is a reality to how I work. It's not that I don't enjoy it - I do enjoy it. I'll be driving home thinking, 'This is a really good start for us', but I'm not naive - I've been in it for a long time. 

"That win doesn't solve everything. We've got to put layers and layers and layers on top of that. 

"It's a great start point, of course. Arsenal are flying but the next win isn't guaranteed because of it and I've told the players that already.

"I've told them to come in ready to start again on Monday, to keep working and to keep improving."

There was a surreal feeling of familiarity about the opening goal of Dyche's era at Everton, with former Burnley teammates Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil - who was excellent throughout - combining for the decisive blow.

Asked whether having the duo and Michael Keane, who also worked under Dyche at Turf Moor, has helped the settling-in process, Dyche continued: "Maybe. I don't work on the basis of asking players to be eyes and ears in the camp - that's not my style. 

"I haven't really spoke to the three of them. They know how I work so maybe they already said to a few of the players what they can expect. 

"I'd like to think that if they did they know that there's thought behind everything we do and I like to think they shared the fact that everything we do is for them. Without the team you can't do anything as a manager or staff. 

"There's certainly no dominance in my managing style believe it or not. 

"There's a shared ownership of it and that's important. I've told them all in the dressing room that they'll be back in Monday and working - make no mistake about it."

Goodison was at its defiant best throughout the afternoon and Dyche was afforded a rapturous reception when he was introduced to a sold-out crowd ahead of kick-off.

There were jubilant scenes at full-time, too, as Player-of-the-Match Amadou Onana beat his chest, the tireless Abdoulaye Doucoure fell to his knees and McNeil pointed to the heavens, while a sold-out crowd roared before singing every beat of ‘Spirit of the Blues’ with a sense of renewed optimism.

"I certainly can't ask more than what they gave us," added Dyche. "I said about the alignment, I said about giving our lot and it's not that they weren't already but maybe it diluted a little bit. We had to revive that. 

"The fans are going to be massive for us, I know that. Their passion, the desire of this Club to not be in this situation... I've been here when it's been rocking and it was absolutely rocking today. 

"We've got to give them something. 

"I admire their support from the off today. That's massively vital for us - but we've got to give them a performance, show that we intend on delivering a performance.

"That was their today and now we must build on that feeling."