Per Mertesacker: 'Tottenham Hotspur win is important'

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has stated that winning Saturday's North London derby is crucial to his side's season.

The Gunners travel to White Hart Lane this weekend two points ahead of their rivals in the Premier League table.

Mertesacker believes that after winning at the same venue last season, there is no room for complacency.

"We have a very important away game. We are very close to each other in the league, are two London rivals," he told the London Evening Standard.

"Last season we did quite well at White Hart Lane, so we will try to repeat that. Now they have a new manager, there has been a change in the squad. It will be a good game, with an early kick off, so we need to be fresh."

Arsenal won 1-0 in the corresponding fixture last term thanks to a goal from Tomas Rosicky.