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We are still haunted by Spurs heartache - Nasri

Samir Nasri scored against Spurs © PA Photos

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Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri has warned his team-mates that they must get over their Tottenham heartbreak if they are to have any chance of winning a first Premier League title since 2004.

The Gunners were 2-0 up and cruising against Spurs in November, but they conceded three second-half goals that condemned them to an embarrassing reverse. Nasri believes that Arsene Wenger's men were still haunted by the defeat in their subsequent matches against Aston Villa and Fulham.

Arsenal were forced to endure a nervy second period against Villa, despite leading 2-0 at the break, while they surrendered a one-goal lead against the Cottagers before battling back for a 2-1 success. Now the French midfielder has urged his team-mates to banish the demons once and for all.

"It was still in the head, the game against Tottenham," he said. "At Aston Villa it was the same thing, but we scored, and against Fulham as well. We need to work on this. If we want to be a great team and a big team, when we are 1-0 up at home, we have to win, and without any scares."

Nasri has admitted that he is currently playing "the best football of his career", having netted 11 times in 16 starts for Arsenal this season. The 23-year-old, who was controversially omitted from France's World Cup squad, is his club's top scorer.

"This is the best form of my career," said the former Marseille player. "Now I am 23, so I am more mature, I have grown up in my game and my life as well, and that's made the difference."

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