Player Focus: Revitalised Dembele at the Heart of Spurs Success

Whatever outrage Manchester City felt about the penalty decision that gave Tottenham their opening goal on Sunday, what they could not deny was that for long portions of the game, the away side were on top. In midfield, Spurs were simply sharper, more energetic, smarter than City. Eric Dier and Dele Alli have rightly drawn a lot of praise this season, but this was a day on which the third member of that central triangle stood out: Mousa Dembele.

Demeble completed 92.5% of his passes, more than any other central midfielder on the pitch, and that despite having 91 touches – 11 more than anybody else on the field. His total of 67 passes was bettered only by teammate Kevin Wimmer and nine more than any City player.

His passing, though, is only part of it. He also made five tackles and four interceptions for a man of the match rating of 8.05 on Sunday. Only Kyle Walker and Pablo Zabaleta won the ball back more often. This was an outstanding defensive midfield display, operating on the left of two screening players with Dier to the right, freeing Alli to get forward. Tottenham's shape in that regard is less a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 than something in between, which in turn creates space for Son Heung-Min or Christian Eriksen drifting in off the flank.

"He's incredible," Alli told the club's website, "probably one of the strongest guys in the world! You certainly think that when you play against him! That's what Mousa is all about, a great player, a joy to watch. Everyone can see how good he is and as a youngster, he's a fantastic player to learn from."

It seems bizarre now, but for much of last season and even the beginning of this, there were significant doubts as to whether Dembele had any future at the club. Last season, he completed the full 90 minutes in just one league game. Even this campaign, injury ensured he completed just two of Tottenham's first 11 league matches. Now, though, he is their highest-ranked player by WhoScored.com rating, the fourth best in the Premier League (7.66).

The 28-year old isn't just a holding player. There have been times when he has played further forward in the three, with Alli sitting and, even from the deep position, he can barrel forwards. "He is a player that can play in different positions," said his manager, Mauricio Pochettino.

"If we analyse his history, he started playing as a striker at AZ Alkmaar in Holland and he has played in different positions with the national team, and here as well. The most important thing is the balance in between the players, and the offensive players and creative players need to be free, but always under a good organisation and the discipline. They have enough quality to create everything but the organisation we have shown from the beginning of the season is very important – to not concede goals and to play well in the opposite half."

It's that combination of ball-winning and passing that is key. Of other players in WhoScored's top 10, only Santi Cazorla has a better pass completion rate, only N'Golo Kante wins the ball back at a higher rate and only Virgil van Dyke has been dispossessed less often.

There's nothing particularly complicated about what Dembele does and he wouldn't necessarily be the easiest player to create a highlights reel for, but there's a reason Spurs have the best defensive record in the Premier League – just 20 conceded in 26 games, three better than the next best, Arsenal. They're committed, well-organised and don't give the ball away, and Dembele is at the heart of that.

How crucial has Dembele been to Tottenham's progress this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below

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