In the North London Derby against Tottenham, Arsenal playmakers Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere were an absolute joy to watch, with the former showing exactly why he is rated so highly by everyone, by putting on a virtuoso performance.

Cazorla was easily the best player on the pitch at the Emirates on Saturday, pulling the strings and picking out the passes - orchestrating the Arsenal band that finally looked like a symphony rather than a cacophony.

Wilshere, who is getting better and better with every passing game as he ramps up his comeback from 17 months out, is clearly benefitting from playing with a player of Cazorla's talents.

"He was different class today," the 20-year-old said. "His touch, his vision is a joke. He's a dream to play with. He never gives the ball away and he's creative, he's busy around the pitch (and) he's a joy to play with.

"It's great to have him in the team. A lot of people said they didn't know about him before, but I've heard of him for a few years now. He's a great player and when you've got someone like that in your team, who's going to bring you in, you just want to get out there."

When Cazorla has the ball at his feet, it is virtually impossible to get the ball off him, a trait that Wilshere is keen to learn and something that was clearly visible against their rivals Spurs. "There was one point when there were three players around him and he just dribbled out of it," Wilshere added.

"That is up there with the best. I think I will have to watch it again to learn a few thing off him."

Asked if Cazorla has earned a nickname in the Arsenal dressing room, Wilshere said: "Not yet. Maybe it should be Messi!"

Despite being a small player like Messi, Cazorla is more well-built and has already been given a nickname in Spain -- Paquirrin (Fat Boy), because of his similarities to a Spanish celebrity that goes by the same name. When told about it to Wilshere, he said: "Maradona, then."

While those high praises might be a little over the top, there is no doubting the fact that Cazorla has already allowed the Arsenal fans to forget about a certain other Spanish player, who left the Emirates for Barcelona, even if Wilshere believes comparisons with former favorite Cesc Fabregas are far off base.

"For me he's a different player to Cesc -- Cesc is more of a passer," he said. "I think with Santi, he can pick the ball (up and) he can beat a player.

"He's got a great shot on him. I think he's just different class and he's great to play with."

Cazorla was expected to be a little jet-lagged ahead of the game, after travelling with the Spanish squad all the way to Panama, without even being involved. "I spoke to him on Friday and he said it was an 11-hour flight," Wilshere said. "He doesn't speak much English -- he just smiled.

"I think with the competition in the Spanish team, if they call you, you have to go. You can't say no -- otherwise they'll replace you with a player who is just as good."

Cazorla added jokingly: "A few of the players have said that I should go back and do the journey again, because it's obviously helped my form!

"It was a long journey and a hard one, but I was able to rest and I feel good now."

Wilshere and Cazorla have the capabilities, along with Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey or Abou Diaby, to form a midfield partnership that can pass almost any team out of the park, and Cazorla believes the more they play together, the better they will get.

"Jack has a quality that everyone knows about, and he is a crucial player for us," Cazorla said. "Every day, he gets better and playing with him gets easier every day, as he improves his level and finds his fitness again.

"We have to be patient but he will keep on improving.

"I am starting to understand Jack a little bit more but that is the same with all of my teammates. We are getting better with every game."