Arsenal playmaker Santi Cazorla has revealed that he models his game on that of Spain team-mate Andres Iniesta, calling the Barcelona midfielder a 'total footballer'.

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Cazorla, 27, has impressed at his new club with two goals and two assists in his seven league games so far since joining from Malaga this summer. But the midfielder knows he has a long way to go yet before he can reach the level of his idol.

"Iniesta is the standard against which I measure myself," Cazorla told Marca. "Playing by his side is something else. He's a total footballer in every sense.

"I try to copy the things he does, but it's very difficult. The problem is that when he does them he makes them look easy, but then you try it and you get all tangled up. Andres is a role model on and off the pitch."

Cazorla is currently in the Spain squad along with Iniesta preparing for the World Cup qualifying match against France on Tuesday at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium. It is a high profile match that the under-performing French are under pressure to impress in and France striker Karim Benzema insists his side can compete with the World and European champions.

"It's not impossible," the 24-year-old said. "It will require hard work. We will be 11 warriors on the pitch."

France have won five of the last seven competitive meetings between the two, but Spain are on a 24-match winning run in major qualifiers and last failed to win in the 1-1 draw with Iceland in September 2007.

France coach Didier Deschamps insisted that he will not only be trying to stop Spain from attacking and has a gameplan for success.

"We also have to be able to bring the ball out well and then take what chances we get efficiently," he said. "I am convinced that coming here and thinking only about defending is not a solution.

"When you play Spain you know you are going to suffer whatever happens. It's the same for all teams."