It is North London derby week and as usual, it is a good time to play some games and one of those games is to predict a combined Tottenham Arsenal eleven.
Down the years, well, over the last decade, it has been a fairly even split, however, not so much this time around.
Let’s take each position and do a formation of 4-4-2. The picks are based on form this season and if they would be available to play this weekend.
Goalkeeper – Hugh Lloris
No doubt some Gooners will make an argument for Bernd Leno but there are levels and Hugo Lloris is on a whole higher level than his German counterpart.
Left-back – Sergio Reguilon
Based purely on form this season Sergio Reguilon gets the nod ahead of Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney.
Centre-back – Eric Dier
Not always the flavour of the month but his form has been solid this season and has arguably been one of the best defenders in the Premier League this campaign.
Centre-back – Gabriel
If Toby Alderweireld was fit to play on Sunday then he would be the pick but in his absence, Arsenal’s Gabriel is probably the next best from both teams.
Right-back – Serge Aurier
Forget Arsenal, they do not have a right-back at Championship level nevermind Premier League level and so it was between Matt Doherty and Serge Aurier. Unbelievably I reckon Aurier has been decent this season and I would select him ahead of Doherty purely on form.
Central midfield – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Do I even have to justify this selection?
Central midfield – Moussa Sissoko
Almost the same as Hojbjerg, however, for anyone that is thinking Thomas Partey from Arsenal, he is unfit for the weekend and even if he was not, has he really done anything to justify the ridiculous hype. I mean, he has been on more losing Arsenal teams than winning ones.
Left midfield – Bukayo Saka
This is a generous one but he has probably been Arsenal’s best player this season and squeaks in ahead of the likes of Steven Bergwijn.
Right midfield – Tanguy Ndombele
He would actually play more as a number 10 and not strictly as a right-sided midfielder and that is where the formation becomes dynamic, really this position is to fit him inside a 4-4-2 system without really deploying him as such.
Striker – Son Heung-min
Hardly a debate this one and obviously that is the case with his strike partner.
Striker – Harry Kane
Probably the most obvious pick of the lot, certainly in the top three or four anyway.
Conclusion
So, just two Arsenal players would make a combined eleven and even then I am being generous, Gabriel would have made way for Toby if he was fit and a simple change of formation would see Son displace Saka and in theory, it could have easily been eleven Spurs players.
But remember, this is a derby and just because we have the better team by a country mile it does not guarantee a win at the weekend, derbies are notorious for turning form on its head.
Highest paid Premier League players 2020…
1st= Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
6th Mesut Ozil
ok Bale comes in at 8th make of that what you will with Kane and Ndombele in 10th= spots but justifying that expenditure currently.
Oh Arsenal, what a mismanaged squad/set of finances…!
Good point, barely any.