Santi Cazorla has suggested that he does not expect Arsenal to sign a striker in the transfer window, in spite of links to Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.

Arsene Wenger has made the French forward his sole striking target this summer, but his pursuit of the 27-year-old has taken blow after blow as both the player’s agent and manager Rafa Benitez have confirmed he is not for sale.

Cazorla holds Benzema in high regard but does not expect the club’s pursuit to end in a new No 9. The midfielder told Cope radio: “Benzema is a great player. Everyone would like to have him on their team, but the coach already has a squad and probably will not find another forward.”

The playmaker has previously told Standard Sport that Arsenal need a "true, true" striker to compete next season.

However the midfielder is confident that with or without an addition upfront Arsenal are ready to compete for the title, even as he urged fans not to get carried away after this weekend’s victory over Chelsea.

Arsenal vs Chelsea: Player ratings 24 show all Arsenal vs Chelsea: Player ratings 1/24 Petr Cech: 7 Playing against his former side, he didn't even have a save to make in the first half. When finally called upon by a great Oscar free-kick, was able to match it. Getty 2/24 Hector Bellerin: 4 Too casual at times, giving away the ball on the edge of his own box and failing to adequately it out. Weakest link at the back. Getty 3/24 Per Mertesacker: 6 Used his height to good effect to intercept balls and win battles with Remy and then Falcao in the second half. getty 4/24 Laurent Koscielny: 7 Strong and authoritative at the back, getting blocks in and helping create an air of assurance during periods of Chelsea pressure. Getty 5/24 Nacho Monreal: 6 Limited the threat on the left of Arsenal's defence, blocking a few crosses from Ivanovic. Got forward when he could and nearly scored. Getty 6/24 Aaron Ramsey: 6 Playing in the central role he covets the Wales international showed awareness, eye for a pass and ability to make a tackle. Shot into side netting from a tight angle. Getty 7/24 Francis Coquelin: 8 A menace in midfield, breaking up play whether through tough tackling or fouling his opponents. Both were effective but his style earned him a booking. Getty 8/24 Santi Cazorla: 7 Well involved, particularly in the first period when he displayed incredible ability with a no-look volleyed pass out to the wing. Getty 9/24 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 8 Cut inside before hitting an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net with his left foot. Showed great pace and awareness throughout a man-of-the-match performance. Getty 10/24 Mesut Ozil: 7 Displayed brilliant touch and awareness and had a hand in Chamberlain's goal with a visionary pass across field in the build-up. getty 11/24 Theo Walcott: 6 Playing in a central role looked sharp and eager to impress but had few opportunities to do so in front of goal. Claimed assist for Chamberlain goal. Getty 12/24 Olivier Giroud: 6 Strength immediately providing a different element to Walcott. Shot over the bar when probably should have done better. Getty 13/24 Thibaut Courtois: 6 Could do little about Chamberlain's rocket of a goal. Did all that was required to keep the score at 1-0 including fine injury-time save from Gibbs. Getty 14/24 BranislavIvanovic: 6 Saved his side from going 2-0 down in the first half with a brave header off the line with Monreal ready to pounce. Getty 15/24 Gary Cahill: 6 Dominated the aerial battles but wasn't overworked by Walcott. Solid display from the England international. Getty 16/24 John Terry: 6 Strong early tackle on Walcott sent out a message then used experience to keep things tidy for Chelsea. For once didn't go the distance, replaced late on. Getty 17/24 Cesar Azpilicueta: 3 Forced to take a booking when beaten for pace by Chamberlain, who gave him a torrid afternoon that he will want to forget before going off after 69 minutes. Getty 18/24 Nemanja Matic: 6 Won numerous tackles in the middle of the park and enabled the more creative players to operate around him. Getty 19/24 Cesc Fabregas: 7 Given time on the ball in deep positions from where he pulled the strings for Chelsea, including brilliant passes for Falcao and Hazard. Getty 20/24 Ramires: 5 Should have scored but headed over the bar with a header from six yards. 'Friendly' nature of match passed the Brazilian by with nasty fouls on Cazorla and Ozil. Getty 21/24 Willian: 7 Arguably Chelsea's best player, making bursting runs from midfield and creating opportunities for his team-mates. Great energy. Getty 22/24 Eden Hazard: 5 Shocking miss by Hazard's standards when put in on goal by Fabregas, blazing the ball over Cech's goal from close range. Was kept well shackled by Arsenal. Getty 23/24 Loic Remy: 5 Standing in for the injured Diego Costa, the Frenchman provided a brilliant pass that Ramires should have converted. Was offside too often. Taken off at half-time. Getty 24/24 Radamel Falcao: 6 Offered more of a target than Remy for Chelsea's midfielders to aim at, eager to get in good positions and make an impact. No clear opportunities. Getty 1/24 Petr Cech: 7 Playing against his former side, he didn't even have a save to make in the first half. When finally called upon by a great Oscar free-kick, was able to match it. Getty 2/24 Hector Bellerin: 4 Too casual at times, giving away the ball on the edge of his own box and failing to adequately it out. Weakest link at the back. Getty 3/24 Per Mertesacker: 6 Used his height to good effect to intercept balls and win battles with Remy and then Falcao in the second half. getty 4/24 Laurent Koscielny: 7 Strong and authoritative at the back, getting blocks in and helping create an air of assurance during periods of Chelsea pressure. Getty 5/24 Nacho Monreal: 6 Limited the threat on the left of Arsenal's defence, blocking a few crosses from Ivanovic. Got forward when he could and nearly scored. Getty 6/24 Aaron Ramsey: 6 Playing in the central role he covets the Wales international showed awareness, eye for a pass and ability to make a tackle. Shot into side netting from a tight angle. Getty 7/24 Francis Coquelin: 8 A menace in midfield, breaking up play whether through tough tackling or fouling his opponents. Both were effective but his style earned him a booking. Getty 8/24 Santi Cazorla: 7 Well involved, particularly in the first period when he displayed incredible ability with a no-look volleyed pass out to the wing. Getty 9/24 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 8 Cut inside before hitting an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net with his left foot. Showed great pace and awareness throughout a man-of-the-match performance. Getty 10/24 Mesut Ozil: 7 Displayed brilliant touch and awareness and had a hand in Chamberlain's goal with a visionary pass across field in the build-up. getty 11/24 Theo Walcott: 6 Playing in a central role looked sharp and eager to impress but had few opportunities to do so in front of goal. Claimed assist for Chamberlain goal. Getty 12/24 Olivier Giroud: 6 Strength immediately providing a different element to Walcott. Shot over the bar when probably should have done better. Getty 13/24 Thibaut Courtois: 6 Could do little about Chamberlain's rocket of a goal. Did all that was required to keep the score at 1-0 including fine injury-time save from Gibbs. Getty 14/24 BranislavIvanovic: 6 Saved his side from going 2-0 down in the first half with a brave header off the line with Monreal ready to pounce. Getty 15/24 Gary Cahill: 6 Dominated the aerial battles but wasn't overworked by Walcott. Solid display from the England international. Getty 16/24 John Terry: 6 Strong early tackle on Walcott sent out a message then used experience to keep things tidy for Chelsea. For once didn't go the distance, replaced late on. Getty 17/24 Cesar Azpilicueta: 3 Forced to take a booking when beaten for pace by Chamberlain, who gave him a torrid afternoon that he will want to forget before going off after 69 minutes. Getty 18/24 Nemanja Matic: 6 Won numerous tackles in the middle of the park and enabled the more creative players to operate around him. Getty 19/24 Cesc Fabregas: 7 Given time on the ball in deep positions from where he pulled the strings for Chelsea, including brilliant passes for Falcao and Hazard. Getty 20/24 Ramires: 5 Should have scored but headed over the bar with a header from six yards. 'Friendly' nature of match passed the Brazilian by with nasty fouls on Cazorla and Ozil. Getty 21/24 Willian: 7 Arguably Chelsea's best player, making bursting runs from midfield and creating opportunities for his team-mates. Great energy. Getty 22/24 Eden Hazard: 5 Shocking miss by Hazard's standards when put in on goal by Fabregas, blazing the ball over Cech's goal from close range. Was kept well shackled by Arsenal. Getty 23/24 Loic Remy: 5 Standing in for the injured Diego Costa, the Frenchman provided a brilliant pass that Ramires should have converted. Was offside too often. Taken off at half-time. Getty 24/24 Radamel Falcao: 6 Offered more of a target than Remy for Chelsea's midfielders to aim at, eager to get in good positions and make an impact. No clear opportunities. Getty

“We have to try to show that level to fight against Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool,” Cazorla added.

“People are very excited to win this weekend at Chelsea, but the League is the most important and we have experience of losing matches you can’t lose if you want to win the league. We must learn from it.

“The aim is to fight for the Premier League, but looking from Sunday to Sunday, not long-term.”