sport news Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are undisputed picks in our combined ... trends now

sport news Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are undisputed picks in our combined ... trends now
sport news Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are undisputed picks in our combined ... trends now

sport news Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are undisputed picks in our combined ... trends now

The second north London derby of the season is upon us on Sunday afternoon, as both Tottenham and Arsenal enter the run in for their respective 2023-24 Premier League campaigns.

The reverse fixture saw the points shared at the Emirates, with Son Heung-Min bagging a brace to earn the then-league-leaders a hard-fought point, but with the title race as it is, Arsenal will need to take all three this time to stand any chance of lifting their first Premier League trophy in 20 years.

Spurs, on the other hand, will be looking to close the gap on Aston Villa to clinch fourth place and return to the Champions League.

Arsenal have been formidable at times this season, but how many of Ange Postecoglou’s squad would get into a starting XI alongside Mikel Arteta’s title contenders?

Here is Mail Sport's combined Arsenal-Spurs XI...

Tottenham face Arsenal in the second north London derby of the season on Sunday afternoon

Tottenham face Arsenal in the second north London derby of the season on Sunday afternoon

The points were shared at the Emirates in September, with Son Heung-Min bagging a brace

The points were shared at the Emirates in September, with Son Heung-Min bagging a brace

Bukayo Saka netted for the Gunners, while Cristian Romero scored an unfortunate own goal

Bukayo Saka netted for the Gunners, while Cristian Romero scored an unfortunate own goal

Formation: 4-3-3 

Goalkeeper: David Raya

While Guglielmo Vicario has been an impressive successor to former Spurs captain Hugo Lloris, Arsenal’s league leading 16 clean sheets this season cannot be overlooked, and David Raya has been an integral part of that.

After replacing Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal’s number one early on this season, the Spaniard has been a key piece for the Gunners in their charge for the title and has proved himself to be one of the best keepers in the Premier League.

David Raya gets the nod in goal, with the Spaniard boasting a league leading 16 clean sheets

David Raya gets the nod in goal, with the Spaniard boasting a league leading 16 clean sheets

Left back: Micky van de Ven

There’s no doubt this spot would have gone to Destiny Udogie if he was fit, as the young Italian has been impressive for Postecoglou's side in his debut season.

Arteta has struggled to find the answer at left back, with questions being asked of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior all season long, so it would be wrong to put a red shirt in just for the sake of it. Micky van de Ven therefore takes the spot.

The Dutch international has played left back for his country, so wouldn’t be completely out of position, and it would be wrong not to include him as he’s been one of Spurs’ best signings. 

When fit, the difference is night and day in Tottenham’s backline.

Although Micky van de Ven is slightly out of position, the Dutch defender fills in at left back

Although Micky van de Ven is slightly out of position, the Dutch defender fills in at left back 

Right Back: Ben White

Arguably one of the tougher ones, as Pedro Porro has been fantastic down the right-hand side for Spurs, and while the Spaniard is the favourable option going forward with his pace and quality on the ball, Ben White - who is originally a centre half - has hardly put a foot wrong for Arsenal this year. 

The England international has not only been solid in defence for the Gunners, but has also contributed four assists and four goals, two of which came in their 5-0 victory over Chelsea on Tuesday night.

Ben White narrowly edges out Pedro Porro and scored two goals against Chelsea on Tuesday

Ben White narrowly edges out Pedro Porro and scored two goals against Chelsea on Tuesday

Centre half: Gabriel Magalhaes

There is no better defensive partnership in the Premier League currently than the duo of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. 

Favoured by Arteta in 32 of the 34 league this season, the rock-solid partnership ranks first in clean sheets and last in goals conceded.

Gabriel has been the spine of Arsenal’s defence since 2020, and despite rumours of a move away for the Brazilian last summer, he has proved to be a mainstay in Arteta’s backline and one of the

read more from dailymail.....

NEXT sport news Piers Morgan names two current stars in his greatest Arsenal XI of all time... ... trends now