The Top Flight
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Arsenal vs. Tottenham: Combined XI ahead of North London derby

By Craig Pearson

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring a goal for Arsenal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at Stadium of Light on October 29, 2016 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring a goal for Arsenal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at Stadium of Light on October 29, 2016 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League match between Arsenal FC and FC Basel 1893 at Emirates Stadium on September 28, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League match between Arsenal FC and FC Basel 1893 at Emirates Stadium on September 28, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /

Central Midfield

Central midfield is awash with talent in both squads. Arsene Wenger and Mauricio Pochettino both have a slew of midfield players they can field in the team’s engine room.

Pochettino tends to rotate his options given the players he has to choose from. Victor Wanyama is one of those players and the summer-signing has proved incredible value already at around £11 million.

Wanyama is the type of player every team needs, and Spurs certainly need him given his form so far this season. In a squad with the likes of Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele, Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli, Wanyama is the one who has cemented his place in the team.

Meanwhile, Wenger made his own midfield acquisition in the summer, after spending £35 million on Granit Xhaka. It seemed to take a while for Xhaka to earn a place in the starting lineup, but the Swiss midfielder is getting there now.

Xhaka brings some much-needed grit and aggression to the Arsenal team, but can also pass the ball and is still technical enough to fit in to the Gunners philosophy. Xhaka has played his way into Wenger’s starting XI and now he’s played his way into this combined XI too.

A partnership of Xhaka and Wanyama offers a little bit of everything and the duo make up the engine room in our team.

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