The Spain international forward has stated that he understands the importance of the clash with Arsenal and that Andre Villas-Boas? men want three points.
Arsenal and Tottenham meet this Sunday in the first north London derby of the new campaign, with the sides having different fortunes in the transfer market this summer.
While Arsenal are yet to bring in any new faces of note, Spurs? side looks markedly different to the team that finished off last season against Sunderland.
With no Gareth Bale, Tottenham have blooded new faces Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue, Paulinho and Roberto Soldado in their opening two league fixtures, and the quartet are set to face Spurs? local rivals for the first time at the weekend.
Former Valencia man Soldado has stated that he and the other new players understand the importance of the fixture against Arsenal and will do everything in their powers to overcome Arsene Wenger?s men on Sunday.
?Yes, my team-mates have told me what the derby means,? Soldado confirmed.
?Tottenham against Arsenal is one of the most beautiful games for the club and everyone who has come in from outside will want to play in it.
?It's the game with the biggest rivalry for Tottenham and I cannot wait to play in this environment and I hope we can get the three points.?
Soldado stated that he has fit in well at White Hart Lane and is eager to repay the club?s faith in him by getting the goals to win important matches.
?It's always important to score goals and I hope to keep on doing this for the team,? the striker continued.
?The welcome I have got since my presentation here in the friendly against Espanyol has been great.
?To hear the fans singing your name is special and I hope it happens a lot more throughout the season.
?The first few games I think are the hardest of the season and we have played well, but we can still improve a lot.?
Arsenal away is a fixture that Spurs fans have looked forward to in recent seasons but have ultimately suffered overwhelming disappointment. In the last two campaigns, despite taking the lead on both occasions, Tottenham have been hammered 5-2 by their local rivals at the Emirates Stadium.
Soldado is correct in his statement that the Spurs team can improve, and they will need to offer more threat going forward if they are to get the goals to win the game this weekend. The Spurs fans should be confident ahead of the clash though and the likelihood of their team shipping anywhere near five goals again has been lessened by the solid start the side has made.
With new men Capoue and Paulinho in the boiler room and a settled back four, Tottenham have looked like a more difficult team to break down, but will face a stern test at the weekend.
Despite the new faces in the Spurs line-up, the Gunners can expect a combative hostility from a Tottenham side looking to finally dethrone them from a top four place in the division.
image: ? Ronnie Macdonald
Gareth McKnight
@90MinsOnlineGoogle+more stories from Gareth McKnight
I am a freelance football journalist from Northern Ireland, currently living and working from Broome in Western Australia. After a degree in sports journalism from the University of Stirling in Scotland, I started in the online football world and have worked for leading websites and media outlets since. My knowledge and passion is based around the Premier League and European football, but I also have a soft spot for the Australian A-League.
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