Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla wary of Tottenham threat ahead of derby

Santi Cazorla has warned his Arsenal team-mates that they cannot afford to underestimate the threat posed by Tottenham ahead of Sunday’s north London derby.

The Gunners host Spurs at Emirates Stadium looking to record back-to-back Premier League wins following their triumph over Fulham last weekend.

Andre Villas-Boas’s men travel to their local rivals aiming to condemn Arsenal to consecutive league home defeats following their shock loss to Aston Villa on the opening day of the season.

And playmaker Cazorla is braced to a testing encounter following Spurs’ activity in the transfer market this summer.

“Tottenham are always in the running to get into the Champions League, to improve every year, and they have strengthened their squad quite well, bringing in Roberto [Soldado], Paulinho, Capoue, so they are a very strong side,” Cazorla told Arsenal’s website.

“Roberto is a very good player, Tottenham have a great signing in him, and he is showing that with goals.

“It is true that Gareth Bale may be departing, but they are still strong, and so we have to match them because it will mean we are fighting for major goals.”

Cazorla, who joined Arsenal from Malaga last summer, added: “The best memory that I have in the Premier League, my best game in the competition, was the derby at home against Tottenham.

“It was a very good result for us, I scored a goal and the atmosphere that day was amazing. The return leg was not so good [Arsenal lost 2-1 at White Hart Lane] but overall they are very special games.”