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Tottenham v Arsenal: North London derby combined XI

By David Gate

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal and Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal and Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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North London derby: Tottenham Hotspur’s Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld  (Photo credit: BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)
North London derby: Tottenham Hotspur’s Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld  (Photo credit: BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) /

Hector Bellerin

This was the toughest choice to make. Kyle Walker has had another excellent season and has grown his reputation as England’s first choice right back. Both Bellerin and Walker have been outstanding in attack while able to hold down the fort defensively. They have each been deployed as both full backs and wing backs and done well at both.

They share many of the same strengths and weaknesses making this decision very hard. The deciding factor for me is looking at their teams when they’ve been missing. Both have missed games through injury but when Walker has missed out Trippier has come in and performed to the same level. When Bellerin missed some games earlier in the season Arsenal looked lost. He is integral to how they defend and attack. Because of his greater importance to his team I’m going for Bellerin in a hair’s breadth decision.

Toby Alderweireld & Jan Vertonghen

Laurent Koscielny has a strong case for one of these spots but ultimately I can’t look beyond the imperious Spurs duo. Toby Alderweireld arrived in the summer of 2015 as the final piece to upgrade a strong defensive unit into an outstanding one. Spurs got what they wanted. The partnership is the best in the Premier League and it’s not really close. In fact the only center back duo in Europe to exceed them is Chiellini and Bonucci of Juventus. They are that good!

Danny Rose

Who would have thought three years ago that Danny Rose would develop into a key cog of a title chasing contender? In the summer of 2014 left back was a weak spot in the Spurs roster. Benoit Assou-Ekotto had lost his place to the young Danny Rose but the Englishman had done nothing to convince the Spurs hierarchy that he was the long-term solution. Ben Davies was brought in from Swansea to be the number one left back Rose was going to give up his spot. He won out the role in the 2014 pre-season and has not looked back. With Chelsea’s Azpilicueta now playing in a back three Rose has the strongest claim to be the best left back in the league.

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