Mertesacker hails ´perfect´ Cazorla

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker says team-mate Santi Cazorla is the ‘perfect footballer’.

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker says team-mate Santi Cazorla is the ‘perfect footballer’.

Spaniard Cazorla scored twice in the Gunners’ 2-1 win on Saturday against Aston Villa, leading the north London outfit to three crucial points in their bid for Champions League qualification.

And Mertesacker is hoping the attacking midfielder’s ability can fire them to third place when his side clash with Tottenham in this weekend’s north London derby.

“You see he takes his chances with his technique and his feeling,” Mertesacker told the club’s official website.

“He is the perfect footballer. He has the technique to score goals and that’s what we need after losing the last two home games.

“There was a bit of pressure but we are on a good run in the league so just needed to focus on that. It was a very important (result).

“We want to climb up the league into the top four. That’s our target for the next couple of weeks. We have enough games to achieve that.

“We’re looking at what Tottenham can do at West Ham on Monday and then we have the derby and we want to go on like (against Villa).”

Arsenal are on a good run of form in north London derbies, beating Tottenham 5-2 in their previous two games at the Emirates Stadium, and Mertesacker wants more of the same.

“The last two home games against Tottenham were absolutely fantastic,” he said. “We try to keep that in our mind and want to achieve the same things, to score goals.

“If we play our game properly, we can compete with every team in the Premier League. That’s what we need next Sunday.”