With the North London Derby coming up on Sunday, we take a look at the best combined XI between the two clubs. Have a read and share your thoughts with us on Twitter @FreshFootball.
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris
Lloris is a sensational goalkeeper and with Petr Cech not being at his best in recent months, this is a fairly easy decision. The Spurs captain takes the first spot in our combined XI.
Right Back: Hector Bellerin
Whilst Walker has improved huge amounts in the last few seasons, Bellerin is without doubt the right back in this team. He is the best young right back in Europe, with excellent attacking attributes and defensive. The Spaniards pace has saved the Gunners defensively many times in the last couple of seasons.
Centre Back: Toby Alderweireld
An excellent signing from Tottenham last summer that now looks like an absolute bargain. The Belgian defender is a warrior in defence and make his team so solid defensively.
Centre Back: Laurent Koscielny
Koscielny and Alderweireld might just be the best two central defenders in the league right now. They’d be great as a pairing but sadly they play for different North London rivals!
Left Back: Danny Rose
Rose is a player that has improved dramatically over the last couple of seasons and with Monreal’s form dropping off this campaign, I think Rose has to get the spot at left back.
Right Midfield: Theo Walcott
This position was a toss-up between several players but the spot is going to go to Walcott because his current form is better than all of the alternatives. Walcott loves a North London Derby goal and has tonnes of experience in this fixture having played for the Gunners for more than 10 years now.
Centre Midfield: Santi Cazorla
Arsenal’s conductor. Whilst the Gunners have plenty of quality central midfielders, until Xhaka fully settles or Ramsey finds consistent form, Cazorla is still the most important. He is magnificent under pressure and on his day unplayable in the middle of the park. His close control and passing range makes him a nightmare to play against.
Centre Midfield: Moussa Dembele
He’s likely to miss the derby on Sunday but what a player he is on his day. Tottenham look a different animal with the Belgian in midfield, he helps link the play in transition and because of his pure importance to how Tottenham function, he has to make the combined eleven.
Left Midfield: Mesut Ozil
We’ve gone for a 4-4-2 formaiton so had to shoehorn Ozil into the left midfield role. He’s played there for Arsenal on occasions and for Germany several times – so he’d still be a very useful asset on the wing. He could also interchange with Alexis behind the striker.
Striker: Alexis Sanchez
I wanted to get Alexis in this team through the middle as he has been brilliant there this season. The Chilean would work in a 4-4-2 sitting just behind the main striker and using his workrate and determination to win the ball back high up the pitch for this combined XI.
Striker: Harry Kane
Look at Tottenham without Kane and you see how much they miss him and how good he is. The English forward is one of the best strikers in the country when on form, he needs to return from injury and find that form soon though as without his goals Tottenham will struggle to keep up with the big boys.
