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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: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur  (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
North London derby: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur  (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

Moussa Dembele

I wanted to include one midfielder that was at least a bit defensively capable. For Arsenal Francis Coquelin has not reached his heights of last season and Granit Xhaka looks behind the pace of the Premier League. So the decision came between Dembele, Dier and Wanyama.

They have all had strong seasons. Dier hasn’t quite been the dominate force he was last term and has been used more in defense. Wanyama has been a canny purchase and critical to making Spurs’ squad larger and more effective in the title run. The Kenyan has executed his role excellently but has had few games that have really stood out as special. The most underrated player on the Spurs squad is Moussa Dembele. He is a genuine ‘box-to-box’ midfielder and helps drive the team forward. It is no coincidence that Spurs uptick in form has been with Dembele now established in the side.

Mesut Ozil

Yes, he doesn’t track back enough. Yes, he goes missing in big games. And yes, he is a symbol of all that is going wrong at Arsenal. But, dammit, he has chops. He is the best midfield technician on this list. There is nobody better in the Premier League at finding the perfect through ball. He can frustrate as much as he can delight but when he delights it is a beautiful thing.

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Dele Alli

The young Englishman has built on last season’s breakout year and is now the two-time winner of the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He is a very capable contributor Tottenham’s midfield play but it his attacking instincts that make him stand out. In the Premier League he is the natural inheritor of Gerrard and Lampard. He is already a master of timing his runs into the box and has shown his range of scoring. There is no type of goal he can’t score and has been crucial in firing Spurs towards their first Premier League title.

Christian Eriksen

Alli is outstanding but this is Christian Eriksen’s team. Everything good Spurs do goes through the Danish wizard. He is the kind of player that makes the game slow down. Everything looks easy for him. He sees everything before anyone else. And his delivery is elite. Now Payet has left the Premier League he has no competition as the best deliverer of a dead ball. Every set piece is an instant goal scoring opportunity with him on the field. He is the Spurs player of the year and the one they can’t afford to lose to injury or transfer.

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