Arsenal Vs Spurs: 5 key players to watch – Here come the new boys

2. Christian Eriksen

Very much like Mesut Ozil and Arsenal, Spurs are dependent on the bulging eyes and whirring mind of Christian Eriksen. It may be Harry Kane that steals the headlines for his remarkable goalscoring exploits, and rightly so given their rarity and wonderment, but it is perhaps Eriksen who is the true integral piece of the Spurs’ attacking puzzle.

Pochettino has sculpted out a uniquely freeing role for Eriksen. He is not shackled by defensive responsibility, although he is more than willing to partake in it, and even when he is officially fielded as a winger, thanks to the insatiable attacking intent of the full backs that Pochettino himself encourages, he is not positionally restricted by having to provide width in the final third. And Eriksen revels in this role.

In his last three seasons, including this current one, he has 13, 15 and six assists. His pass completion rate is invariably above 80% every year, while he often tops three key-passes-per-game, a figure that is only really bettered by Ozil himself over such an extended period. Eriksen is undoubtedly one of the most creative players in football. Stopping Kane may prove impossible, futile even. But stopping his service, and Eriksen in particular? That is a more pragmatic strategy.