Arsenal v Tottenham: The North London Derby XI

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 6: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal holds off Kyle Walker of Tottenham during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane on March 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 6: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal holds off Kyle Walker of Tottenham during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane on March 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Goalkeeper

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

Hugo Lloris, Tottenham

No decision was harder for your humble manager of the North London XI. Between Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris and Arsenal’s Petr Cech, you really can’t go wrong between the sticks. Ultimately, Tottenham’s defensive record in the league gets Lloris the nod.

Yes, he’s got a great back four ahead of him, but Lloris is having another outstanding season in net for Spurs. Given an extended holiday following the Euros, Lloris returned to his post for Tottenham on Match Day 3, and has given up just four goals in eight league games.

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Things haven’t gone quite as well in the Champions League for Lloris as he’s allowed three goals across four matches and Tottenham have suffered disappointing losses to Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen.

And yet, Cech hasn’t played in the Champions League this season. Arsenal has rolled with Colombia No. 1 David Ospina in goal through four matches in the UCL, though Ospina, to be fair, has looked solid when given the chance.

Still, Lloris’ combined defensive record across the EPL and UCL means that he’s played more games than Cech and has given up less goals. He gets the edge in our XI.