Anfield legend says Arsenal players will be ‘stuck’ to Tottenham star who is in for a shock

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Stevie Nicol says James Maddison is in for a shock when he tastes the north London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal for the first time.

The Anfield legend thinks that the Arsenal players, from the get-go, will be ‘stuck’ to the in-form Tottenham midfielder.

Following James Maddison’s summer transfer from Leicester City, he has been one of Ange Postecoglou’s top performers, scoring and assisting two each.

But Stevie Nicol thinks that, during the early stages of Sunday’s showdown at the Emirates, the Spurs playmaker will be thinking ‘I have never experienced anything like this’, as he told ESPN.

There are a number of Tottenham players, including the man in the dugout, who have never tasted the north London derby before.

But, of course, Ange Postecoglou can draw his knowledge and experience on Celtic v Rangers because that is as fierce as it comes, other than that, many of those who will be expected to start at the Emirates, are heading straight into the deep end.

James Maddison against Arsenal

“I think it does (on Arsenal having NLD edge because of Tottenham’s lack of experience),” said Nicol.

“Derbies like this are 100% more intense and everything is quicker, which means you have to think quicker. Everything you do has to be done in a manner which you have never experienced before.

“James Maddison, for example, is going to pick the ball up and as he is thinking ‘what do I do?’, somebody is going to be stuck to him.

“He is going to be thinking ‘hold on a second, I have never experienced anything like this’. If you have never played in one before, it hits you. It rocks you.”

James Maddison’s chance to shine

In the build-up to the north London derby, many combined XI’s have been doing the rounds.

One from Sky Sports didn’t sit well with club legend Graham Roberts, with James Maddison and Son Heung-min the only players to feature from Spurs’ side.

That shows how highly the England international is valued, but this is his chance to seriously elevate his game because, if he performs here, then his reputation will skyrocket.