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Cazorla - We're showing consistency

Santi Cazorla says Arsenal's consistency in the second half of the season bodes well for their trophy prospects next term.

Arsene Wenger's side went through a transitional phase at the start of the campaign as new signings Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud bedded into a squad that had seen Robin van Persie and Alex Song leave last summer.

Inconsistency hampered Arsenal's quest for silverware but they have been top of the Premier League form table in recent times after winning five and drawing two of their last seven games.

Cazorla is encouraged by those statistics and believes the Gunners are on the up.

"What I’ve taken from this year is that as a team we weren’t very consistent for half of the season, which cost us in terms of reaching the higher positions in the league," he told Arsenal Player.

"Now we’re a lot more consistent and that’s the form we were lacking before - being consistent and getting the three points whenever we could. We’re a long way off the top because of this lack of form, even though it was only for half the season.

"The aim is to win trophies. Unfortunately Arsenal has gone eight years without a trophy, which is a long time for such a huge club that’s always up there fighting with the other big clubs.

"This year we haven’t been able to, for various reasons. We got far in both the FA Cup and the League Cup but it wasn’t to be. I hope next year will be another story. We want to be fighting for the Premier League and all the tournaments we enter. We’re a great team and I’m sure we will."

"I was able to score in my first derby and I’ll always remember that day"

Cazorla's first season in English football has been an unqualified success and, after careful consideration, he has identified his personal highlight.

"There are so many, but if you put me on the spot I’d say my first derby at home against Tottenham," said Cazorla.

"The week leading up to the game I didn’t really know what the derby meant here but in the street and even at training all the people who work for the Club were saying ‘you have to beat Tottenham, it’s a massive rivalry, it’s huge!’

"I didn’t realise it was such a big deal! Luckily, we won at home [5-2] in a great game for the fans. I was able to score in my first derby and I’ll always remember that day."

Watch FREE video highlights of Cazorla's favourite game of the season at the top of this page.