Cazorla eyeing Spurs win

Santi Cazorla says his Arsenal side need to beat Tottenham on Sunday in order to give their Champions League prospects a boost.

Santi Cazorla says his Arsenal side need to beat Tottenham on Sunday in order to give their Champions League prospects a boost.

This will be the playmaker’s second north London derby, his first one coming in November and resulting in a 5-2 victory for Arsene Wenger’s side at the Emirates Stadium.

However, Cazorla is aware that a defeat could jeopardise his club’s prospects of Champions League football next season, given they are in fifth place and five points behind third-placed Spurs.

“This is a very important match for us with regard to the Champions League,” Cazorla told the Daily Mail.

“If we lose it would be a difference of seven points, too big a gap.

“It’s true we’ve been inconsistent. We didn’t make it through in the Capital One Cup or the FA Cup but our aim is to be in the Champions League and hopefully we’ll improve through the rest of the season.

“A win at Tottenham would invigorate the whole team. We’re two points away from Chelsea but if we win this we will be one away from Tottenham.”

Cazorla has enjoyed personal success at Arsenal this season, with his haul of 11 goals already bettering last season’s total of nine while at Malaga.

The former Liga star believes his freedom when playing in the Premier League is the reason for his higher goal return.

“Compared to Spain, the football here is less tactical, but more fun to watch and play. There’s too much technique in Spain and they are held back by it. This makes the match more boring. There’s a better pace in England,” he said.

“There’s also more space, especially for footballers like me, and more time to think. Teams always want to attack and score goals in England. In Spain they are locked down by tactics. And the atmosphere here is just amazing.”