Harry Kane is in the form of his life. The Tottenham Hotspur striker has seven goals and nine assists in his ten Premier League appearances this term, and also registered a goal and assist in his sole Europa League start.
Alongside Son Heung-min, the England captain has given Jose Mourinho’s side devastating firepower, which is why Spurs are competing at the top of the table.
Of course, Kane’s brilliance isn’t anything new. The 27-year-old is one of the best centre forwards in Premier League history having found the back of the net 150 times in the English top flight.
Along with the likes of Sergio Aguero, Karim Benzema, and Robert Lewandowski, he is one of the best out-and-out strikers of his generation.
This season, however, has seen Kane develop his game further. He isn’t just converting chances in front of goal, he is frequently the guy creating them too.
This is illustrated by his statistics over the early part of the season. On current form, Kane will break Kevin De Bruyne’s record for the most assists registered in a single Premier League campaign by February.
Arsenal do not just have a number nine to worry about in today's North London derby, but a ten, eight, and even a six rolled into one. Kane has become more than just the complete striker. He is a one-man attacking unit.
He is Tottenham’s most prolific key passer, with 2.1 per game in the Premier League this term (as per WhoScored). The 27-year-old has also averaged more shots than any other Spurs player, 3.9 per game. For context, Son is Tottenham’s second most prolific shot-taker with 2 per match. Nobody comes close to Kane’s attacking output.
So Arsenal must find a way to shackle the Tottenham talisman, which will be far easier to do in theory than on the pitch. The Gunners' recent displays in the Premier League have been insipid and they are winless in their last three matches.
Mikel Arteta's defence has also been breached five times in those three games. Stopping Kane will be far from easy.
The temptation may be to play a low defensive block to stop Spurs exploiting the space in behind on Sunday, but this could play into Kane’s hands, giving him plenty of room between midfield and defence to drive into.
It wouldn't be a surprise, therefore, if Arteta returns to the back three he utalised at the start of the campaign, and for much of last season.
This would ensure a defender is always able to follow Kane when he drops deep, while the other two centre-backs can then look to curtail the threat of Son breaking behind.
It would also enable Arsenal do what they have done best under Arteta: counter-attack. When faced with a stubborn defensive block, the Gunners have struggled. Their lack of midfield creativity has been horribly exposed and it's resulted in sterile possession-based football.
However, if they can soak up Tottenham's pressure and then hit on the break via Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bukayo Saka, and Willian, they may have a chance of claiming victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The problem is, of course, Mourinho is likely to demand his side set up in the same fashion. And then it's down to which individuals can decide the game.
In Kane, Spurs have a bonafide match-winner, a difference-maker who can turn a game in an instant. He must, quite simply, be stopped.
