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Football London
Football London
Sport
Alasdair Gold

The Tottenham player Arsenal should fear on Sunday and it's not Harry Kane or Son Heung-min

All the talk among Arsenal fans has been about Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Son Heung-min ahead of Sunday's north London derby but it would dangerous for the visitors to overlook Tanguy Ndombele.

It wouldn't be a north London derby if there wasn't some doubt over Kane's involvement, but the England captain looks set to be available for Sunday's match.

With 11 goals in 10 north London derbies for Tottenham, plus 13 goals and 11 assists to his name this season from 16 matches, it's understandable that the Gunners' fans are all fearing the striker's return.

Then there is Son, with 12 goals and five assists from his 16 games, not to mention three goals and four assists to his name in 12 matches against Arsenal.

North London Derby Preview

Yet with all the focus on those two talented attackers, and perhaps on Gareth Bale should he get the nod to start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, it leaves all of the attention off Ndombele.

Arsenal have not experienced the 23-year-old Frenchman yet. He did not feature in either of the north London derbies last season.

Even if he had, this is not the Tanguy Ndombele of last season.

The midfielder is a force of nature, dragging opponents out of position at will, with quick feet, strength, a low centre of gravity and pirouettes that leave opponents grasping at thin air.

In that sense he is similar to Mousa Dembele, a player who gave Arsenal problems at his peak during the Mauricio Pochettino years.

However, Ndombele comes with added ability and creativity in the final third and if Arsenal do not have a plan to deal with him then he will cause problems. He might just anyway.

For if Arsenal concentrate on tracking Kane when he drops deep then that will take the focus off Ndombele to cause problems elsewhere.

If the club record signing draws two or three men to him as he slaloms his way through the centre of the pitch then there will be space for Kane and Son and others to profit.

On Sunday, Ndombele will have the security of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Moussa Sissoko behind him and while he will still have to be disciplined against Arsenal, the Frenchman will be responsible for providing the fulcrum for Tottenham's counter-attacks and creativity.

He might not be the player that Arsenal fear the most but if they don't respect him he will wreak havoc.

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