Glenn Hoddle names Arsenal’s key player in North London derby

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Arsenal will feature in the North London derby on Sunday.

Glenn Hoddle has written in The Daily Mail that Shkodran Mustafi will be the key player for Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal will take on Tottenham at home in the Premier League in a few hours’ time.

The Gunners will head into the North London derby at the Emirates Stadium as favourites.

Mustafi, who joined Arsenal from Valencia in the summer transfer window, is likely to start for Arsene Wenger’s side.

Tottenham legend Hoddle believes that the 24-year-old central defender will be key for Arsenal.

“Mesut Ozil’s goal against Ludogorets on Tuesday was wonderful and Alexis Sanchez has been excellent this season – but the player who I think has made the biggest difference to Arsenal is Shkodran Mustafi,” Hoddle wrote in The Daily Mail.

“He and Laurent Koscielny seemed to be establishing the sort of partnership on which great teams are built. With the likes of Granit Xhaka sitting in midfield, there is more balance to this Gunners side than in the past, but it is that central defensive partnership which is key.

“It is an area which has let Arsenal down for too long. But Mustafi has grown up in tough leagues in Serie A with Sampdoria and La Liga with Valencia. He likes to get tight on players and he seems to like to organise.

“With Koscielny’s pace, they can cover each other. They look like a proper defensive pairing and Arsenal probably haven’t had that since Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure.”

Mustafi has been superb for Arsenal so far this season and has established himself as an important player in the current team.

Tottenham are not looking great in the final third at the moment, and they will be find it tough to get past the centre-back.

Arsenal are third in the Premier League table at the moment with 23 points from 10 matches, while Tottenham are three points behind in fifth.

Sunday’s North London derby at the Emirates promises to be hugely entertaining and exciting.