The Mail on Sunday

Bale’s real impact on Spurs duo

- Danny Murphy

IF YOU want to assess the impact Gareth Bale has had at Tottenham, look at the good form of Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn. While Bale hasn’t hit the heights of his previous spell at Spurs — predictabl­y given the amount of football he’s missed in the last two years — his arrival has inspired others because of the extra competitio­n for places he brings.

Bergwijn hasn’t scored this season but has still been an import ant cog i n Jose Mourinho’s machine. He has had to up his game and responded to keep Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela and Bale out of the starting XI.

Even Son wouldn’t have felt completely secure when Bale walked in to huge fanfare and he’s also reacted in the way Mourinho wanted with a flurry of goals.

The Spurs manager has hit upon a system that works with Son on the right, Bergwijn on the left and both are capable of running in behind defenders if Harry Kane drops deep and springs a pass.

Their success has given Bale t i me t o bui l d up hi s match sharpness after being left in the cold at Real Madrid.

He’s not the same player as when he ran Maicon ragged at White Hart Lane and the San Siro but, from a team perspectiv­e, it doesn’t really matter. The biggest benefit of having Bale is the impact he’s had on the rest of the forward line. And from what I hear, the Welsh superstar has shown a great attitude at the training ground, showing the rest of the squad that a four- time Champions League winner is prepared to work his hardest to get into this Spurs side.

It’s left Mourinho with a headache, but one he won’t mind.

He’ll want the players to push each ot her and not f eel t oo comfortabl­e.

IS GABRIEL ABLE TO STOP KANE?

GABRIEL looks the answer to Arsenal’s long-standing defensive problems but today is the ultimate test against Spurs’ front three if Harry Kane plays as expected.

I’m impressed with how Gabriel has settled in. He’s been Arsenal’s best player and has every attribute you’d want in a centre-half: quick, strong, reads the game and can come out with the ball.

However, Spurs will be his toughest assignment yet because of Kane’s form and the way he also drops deep to build play. It gives the opposition a hard decision, whether t o push a defender forward to track him or give that responsibi­lity to a midfielder.

Mikel Arteta has a dilemma of choosing three centre-halves or a flat back four. The availabili­ty of Thomas Partey is important. He is a proper midfield shield so when he starts, Arsenal can sacrifice the extra centre-half.

What helps the Arsenal manager is that Gabriel is at home in either system. If Arsenal do play him in a three, he’ll have the cover to be more aggressive in engaging Kane higher up the pitch when needed.

From what I’ve seen, the Brazillian is fond of a physical battle and will relish the job. But if Partey is given that role and Gabriel is put in a back four, the Brazilian has the pace to do that job as well.

Arsenal’s tactic should be to condense the middle of the pitch and force Spurs out wide. Given Arsenal are away, I’d opt for caution and either play three at the back or have two holding midfielder­s.

Kane presents a unique challenge as he has penalty-area movement of a world-class No 9 and can pass the ball like a world-class No 10. And if you ever sling a cross in, there’s nobody better to get a head on it! Over to you, Gabriel.

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