Dele Alli makes Charlie Nicholas' Arsenal-Tottenham combined XI
Sunday 8 November 2015 16:01, UK
Charlie Nicholas has selected his best XI from Arsenal and Tottenham, with only three Spurs players making his line-up ahead of the north London derby.
Four members of Mauricio Pochettino's squad received call-ups to the latest England squad but only Harry Kane and Dele Alli are included in the former Arsenal striker's team, with Eric Dier and Kyle Walker both missing out.
With Arsenal hampered by a string of injury problems, Charlie has selected from both fit and unfit players, picking Hector Bellerin and Aaron Ramsey, who are both set to miss the clash as part of a string of injury problems for the Gunners.
Here's who the Soccer Saturday pundit has gone for and why...
The first decision is probably the toughest with two top class goalkeepers and that's one thing that does concern me, because Hugo Lloris tends to be very good in the big games. However, Petr Cech's record is sensational and I have to go with him because of what he's achieved in the game.
It's an easier decision at right-back, with Hector Bellerin probably as fast as Kyle Walker, if not faster, but more controlled. I just think he's adapted brilliantly to the Premier League, the way he protects his centre-backs is getting better, while Walker hasn't really developed that side of his game.
On the other side it's another tough choice and the one weak spot for both teams. Danny Rose is very honest and committed but can be rash in his decisions. Again, he's better going forward than defensively so I'm going with Nacho Monreal, who is steady and reliable and has been much improved.
On the left-hand side of my centre-back pairing I'm definitely going with Laurent Koscielny. He's quick, scores a decent amount of goals and is good on the ball.
Toby Alderweireld is the one Tottenham player I've been very impressed with. When I saw him playing for Southampton I was desperate for Arsene Wenger to go and get him. He has a controlled aggression and can give it back. Jan Vertonghen for me tries to be aggressive but falls down whenever he gets touched and I've never liked that.
For my defensive midfielder, well Eric Dier might be being groomed into something like that and does a half-decent job but he doesn't have the efficiency and pace in his play that Francis Coquelin provides.
Then on the left of my midfield, where I think he operates best linking up with a centre-forward, is Alexis Sanchez. There's no debate over whether he gets in.
In the central area, some might say he's too young, but he's balanced, physically competitive, and even at his age is an all-round midfielder, Dele Alli. I think he'll score more goals. Most importantly, one of the characteristics I've always been fan of, is midfield runners who arrive in the box at the right time - people don't realise how difficult that it. He's got the whole package and it will be down to whether he has the mentality to kick on. He'll have the big, big clubs after him if he does.
On the right I would put Aaron Ramsey in. Another running midfield player, controlled on the ball, sometimes overdoes it but it's because his game is improving so much. That three have incredible movement and energy.
Then I'd have Mesut Ozil in behind my striker. He's really taken his game on to adapt this season but he still needs to produce more big performances in the big games, this Sunday being one of them.
Leading the line would be Harry Kane. He gets the nod ahead of Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud because, despite still being young, he has the movement and ability to bring the midfield runners in and feed off the supply from Ozil.
Walcott would be ahead of Giroud, who doesn't offer any threat when he's not playing well and relies to much on others, while Kane can occupy two centre-backs and still provide a threat.
