With another big North London derby on the horizon, we decided to dissect both teams and put together a combined XI made up of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal players.
Both Tottenham and Arsenal go into the upcoming North London derby with everything to play for. While the Lilywhites are battling for fourth place, the Gunners still have a shot at the Premier League title.
Spurs will be hoping to dent their rivals’ ambitions on Sunday afternoon, while Mikel Arteta’s side will be looking to maintain their place at the top of the table.
Here, we put rivalries aside and pick a combined XI featuring players from both clubs.
Guglielmo Vicario: This one is a bit of a no-brainer. Arsenal have both Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya, but neither have shown the level of consistency required to be a top goalkeeper. Guglielmo Vicario, on the other hand, has been a revelation since joining Tottenham in the summer.
Pedro Porro: Ben White has made a successful transition from centre-back to right-back of late, but Pedro Porro just pips him to the post for our combined XI. The Spaniard offers more going forward, is quicker and stronger, and shows more passion on the pitch, too.
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Cristian Romero: There is a legitimate argument to be made that Cristian Romero is now one of the best centre-backs in the world. He’s found some composure this season and looks far less reckless which, combined with his impressive tackling and talents in carrying the ball forward and playing progressive passes, make him a formidable defender.
William Saliba: One of the most difficult decisions in this selection was leaving Micky van de Ven out. The Dutchman has been fantastic in his first season for Spurs this year, but Saliba is a more experienced and accomplished centre-half at the moment. The idea of him and Romero together is a scary one, that’s for sure.
Destiny Udogie: Arsenal have a real lack of options at left-back this year, but even if they did have someone to rival Destiny Udogie, you’d be hard-pressed to displace the young Italian. His maraudering runs into the opposition box have been a joy to watch this season, and he has enough pace, strength, and awareness to track back and put in crucial tackles, too.
Declan Rice: Arsenal may have paid a lot of money for Declan Rice last summer, but it seems to be money well spent. In fact, Rice is the exact kind of player Tottenham are in desperate need of right now: someone who can protect the defence, break up opposition attacks, and transition the ball from back to front smoothly.
Martin Odegaard: Undoubtedly Arsenal’s best player is their captain. Odegaard has always been a creative and dynamic midfielder, but since taking on the armband, he has evolved into a real leader, too. A very special player, indeed.
James Maddison: He may not have been at his best since the turn of the year, which may have something to do with the injury he sustained in November, but on his day, there are few creative number 10s better than James Maddison in the league. He has the ability to change a game in an instant with a bit of magic, and the sooner he gets back to those high standards, the better.
Bukayo Saka: Questions are starting to be about Bukayo Saka, and rightly so. His end product can go from one extreme to the other — you either get a screamer in the top corner, or a wasted ball that doesn’t beat the first man — but when he gets it right, the young Englishman is a top talent.
Heung-min Son: He may have led the line for Tottenham pretty well this season, but Son’s best position is definitely out wide on the left. With terrifying pace, great skill, and flawless finishing, the Spurs skipper is the best player in this team, and is a genuine, world-class talent.
Richarlison: Both Tottenham and Arsenal are lacking the kind of central striker that can consistently bag them 20 goals a season, but when you look at the Gunners’ options, it’s not surprising that Richarlison gets the nod here. The Brazilian has struggled with injuries this season, but that purple patch at the start of the year suggested he has a lot to offer when he is fit and confident.
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