Dele Alli vs Shkodran Mustafi
Not the kind of matchup you’d expect, really, but Dele Alli has seen chances aplenty running in late into the box. (Like a certain Aaron Ramsey in 2013)
Shkodran Mustafi, on the other side, has been a solid addition for the Arsenal side proving to be the ideal partner for Frenchman Laurent Koscielny. And this weekend, he’ll have the chance to enter the hearts of Arsenal fans forever.
Mustafi is a no-nonsense defender who loves the sliding tackle and the occasional push but the slyest, most cunning player he’ll come up against this season could be young Alli.
Alli has been sensational for Tottenham – and England – ever since joining the first-team in the summer last season. His tricks, flicks, quick-abuses are a pain for any defender to deal with and he’ll get under their skin extremely quickly.
For Mustafi, though, this could be the kind of fixture where he goes all Poker-faced again. The German and Koscielny did it ever so brilliantly against Chelsea’s Diego Costa and will have to do the same – be the kind of silent ball-stealing prick who looks the other way when the going gets in your face.
One tasty battle, this.
