MARTIN KEOWN’S EXPERT ANALYSIS

MOUSA DEMBELE is such an important player for Tottenham because he gives them physical and mental strength. He is imposing, anticipates danger and is strong in the tackle. Yet he also brings a mental toughness that makes fightbacks such as the one against Juventus possible. Dembele gives Tottenham the character and backbone they lacked a few years ago. But it’s not just his strength that makes him so formidable. Dembele has all the qualities of a top midfielder. He can receive the ball in any situation and is always looking to get Spurs on the front foot. There is an arrogance to his play. If Dembele is in trouble, his first movement is to glide past an opponent. At Fulham, he played further forward and showed his ability to break from midfield and score. Now he is thriving in a deeper role, providing the platform for attacks. Mauricio Pochettino has often withdrawn Dembele towards the end of games but now he is approaching peak fitness. It is great to see him finally get the credit he deserves.