Tottenham 2017-18 Player Preview: Mousa Dembélé

Our player-by-player presses on with the very engine of Tottenham’s pressing machine, 30-year-old midfielder Mousa Dembélé.

Every since one fateful day two and half years ago where Dembélé lined up in the number 10 role for Tottenham against Arsenal, it was clear that the Belgian could do big things for Mauricio Pochettino side.

Though he wasn’t a creative presence in that number 10 role in the same way that, say, Christian Eriksen would be. His role was more defensive in nature, focused around harassing Arsenal’s predictable attempts to build out of the back. He pressed, closed down and created chances in transition — all factors in what would eventually result in a 2-1 win for Spurs.

A shift to midfield the following season allowed Dembélé to truly blossom into the role of Pochettino’s presser-in-chief. After years of high potential but low product, the Belgian finally found his calling.

Since then, Spurs have thrived under Dembélé’s leadership and command of midfield. Especially with Érik Lamela out for much of last season, Dembélé was the primary means through which Spurs stitched together possession in midfield and quality in attack. Even if he only ever rarely scores or earns assists, he is a primary factor in Spurs’ ability to push the ball into dangerous areas.

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Which is why one of the primary objectives of Spurs’ season is to either find Dembélé’s successor or nurture one from within the club.

At 30, Dembélé doesn’t look to be slowing down. He will begin the season as a member of the starting XI, and could very well end it there too.

That said, Spurs are too reliant on the role he so expertly fills. If Dembélé is injured or otherwise unavailable, there needs to be a player reader to step up and provide the same quality in midfield.

Presumably, that player will be Harry Winks. He’s not precisely the same player Dembélé is, but in his first starts with the club last season he hinted that he might be able to fill the same boots. Expect Pochettino to give Winks every opportunity to prove himself.

That is unless Tottenham actually move to find Dembélé’s successor on the transfer market. In theory, Dembélé’s role could be filled by long-rumored target Ross Barkley. The Everton man is nominally an attacking midfielder, though his skill with the ball at his feet might make Pochettino think he would fit in the center of the pitch as well.

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Barkley’s tendency to shoot early and often might also represent an upgrade, at least by Pochettino’s reckoning. As debatable as Barkley’s quality might be, there’s little denying that his presence on the pitch means that much more pressure on the opposition goal.

For the time being though, the role of midfield engine is Dembélé’s to lose.