Lee Dixon admits Tottenham are badly missing this player (not Harry Kane)

Lee Dixon believes that Tottenham hugely missed defender Toby Alderweireld in Wednesday night’s Champions League defeat at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to the Bundesliga side at Wembley as they suffered a severe blow to their hopes of reaching the last 16 of Europe’s elite club competition.

It remains to be seen whether Alderweireld could return to action in time to be fit for Tottenham’s crunch trip to The Emirates to take on Arsenal on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League.

And Dixon has talked up the importance of the Belgian international to Spurs’ defence as they prepare for their trip to Arsenal.

Speaking to ITV Sport on Wednesday night after the loss at Wembley, Dixon said: “Tottenham were defensively all over the place…

“Toby Alderweireld is a big miss for them. He is the obvious one [against Leverkusen] of the players Tottenham are missing.”

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Arsenal head into the game against Spurs looking to continue their fine form which has propelled them level on points with leaders Manchester City.

Spurs, meanwhile, are winless in six games in all competitions.