Ronald Koeman wants Everton to build on seventh-place finish next season

Ronald Koeman has described Everton's season as positive and he wants his side to build on it for next season despite their final day 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.

The Toffees secured a seventh place finish in the Premier League, qualifying for the Europa League in the Dutchman's first season in charge at Goodison Park.

And Koeman wants his side to improve again next season after admitting he had not expected to qualify for Europe on his arrival at the club last summer.

"Overall it's a really positive season after qualifying for European football," Koeman told Sky Sports.

"That's really good and I didn't expect it in my first season. We want to go on now, we want to improve and this result is a good reflection on what we need and what we need to improve.

"We need a little bit more productivity of the many chances we created and a little bit more aggression on different parts of the pitch.

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"That's what we tried to do."

Koeman started Ross Barkley on the bench for his side's 3-1 defeat, but insists it was for tactical reasons and not because of his contract stand-off with the club.

The England midfielder's future at the club has been in doubt in recent weeks with the player yet to sign a new contract but Koeman reiterated his desire for the 23-year-old to stay.

"Everybody knows the story about Ross Barkley," Koeman added.

"We try to find the best team to start every game and Enner Valencia showed today why he was starting because he was really dangerous. If you want to start with Valencia then you need to make a decision on who will be out and today it was Ross."

When asked if he wanted Barkley to stay, he said: "Yes, no question because we've offered him a really good contract and it's now up to the player."

Koeman was also quizzed on the future of striker Romelu Lukaku, who scored Everton's goal from the penalty spot at the Emirates to finish with 25 for the league season.

Again the Dutchman confirmed he wanted to keep his current squad together but insists the board will have the final say on who leaves the club.

Koeman said: "The position that we have is to keep all the good players in the team and we will see if there is that interest in the player.

"The board will take the final decision for next season."