Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has warned Tottenham Hotspur that now is not the best time for them to be visiting the Emirates Stadium.

The North London rivals meet each other in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening.

With the Gunners riding high at the top of the Premier League, the England international does not believe that Tim Sherwood's men will be looking forward to the occasion.

"It's going to be a bad time to play us," the 24-year-old told reporters. "For the neutrals, it's going to be a very interesting battle. I can't call it.

"Every time Tottenham come here or we go there, you want to put 100% in. These are massive games. Since their new appointment, Tottenham have done very well, to be fair to them.

"But like I say, they won't want to play us. And it's at The Emirates. We're trying to make our stadium into a fortress and we are starting to do that."

Arsene Wenger's side won 1-0 when the two sides met at the Emirates in September.