Tottenham v Arsenal: Who has the edge at each position? Position by position breakdown of the NLD
Dele Alli v Granit Xhaka
I might be stretching things a bit here given the club’s likely difference in formations, but I think Alli and Xhaka will see a lot of one another on Sunday. As a result, I think it’s fair to pit them against one another in this evaluation.
Ironically, both men might be the biggest wild cards for their respective squads. Each midfielder has the ability to make or break his team’s chances in this Derby.
For Xhaka, it’s imperative that he keeps his cool no matter what happens in the match. Arsenal cannot afford to go a man down in such a contentious affair. The Swiss midfielder has a nasty habit of committing rash challenges every so often.
Tottenham’s midfield talisman isn’t exactly a choir boy either. Alli may have a baby face, but he’s capable of a rash challenge or two himself. He also needs to maintain a cool head during what should be very tense proceedings.
Alli is just a more influential player at this point in his career. He’s the creative force that drives Tottenham attack when it’s operating at maximum capacity. Xhaka is a nice piece for Arsenal, but Alli is a star for Spurs.