Last season, Mohammed Kudus was the only real bright spot for the Tottenham Hotspur attack, and when he went down with a season ending hamstring injury, it truly all fell apart for the Lilywhites without Kudus's ability to run the counter, take players on, and make something happen all on his own with just about no other help.
Kudus has two assists already this season, and he has been one of the most efficient dribblers in the Premier League on a per 90 basis. Steadily, the tricky Ghanaian winger is looking more dangerous, and with Savio injured, he drew another start on the right wing in Spurs first win of the season last Monday vs. Coventry, assisting after a great run into the box.
Even though Chelsea do not have a vaunted defense, it is young, hungry, and improving under one of the best managers in the world in Xabi Alonso. And the left side of the Chelsea defense is their strength with Jorrel Hato on the wing and Levi Colwill as the left sided center back. These guys are great at winning the ball, playing physical, and keeping up with a player like Kudus who likes to win with speed and agility.
Chelsea will make it tougher for Mohammed Kudus
Tottenham Hotspur will have to hope that Mohammed Kudus can continue to build off these positive performances with two assists in his last three games and above average performances in total, because as an outlet and a progressor on the right side, he is very important in Spurs piecing the attack together, keeping width, and setting the table for Omar Marmoush and Dominic Solanke as the goal scorers.
There's no doubt that one on one, Kudus is going to have the toughest battles ahead of him against Chelsea. Jorrel Hato is not the finished product yet, but he has a lot of talent, and as a wing back, he's one of the tougher defenders to come up against. And then with a top Premier League center back like Levi Colwill behind him, that gives two layers for Kudus to go up against, which then becomes even tougher in a 3-5-2 because he is the only wide guy.
Now, a 4-3-3 is more likely with Pedro Porro ready to play, or if they play together in a different formation with a back three, Kudus would be more forward in a 3-4-3. But either way, Kudus is going to have to work extra hard for his dribbles and, especially, for his chance creative qualities at Stamford Bridge.