talkSPORT presenters battle it out over Tottenham's selections in the North London derby with Arsenal

By premiernews On Sep 14, 2024

Jamie O'Hara and Jason Cundy clashed over which Tottenham players should feature in a combined north London derby with the Arsenal stars.

The bitter rivals will fight for the first time this season. Sunday to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with a very close match on the line.

Spurs and Arsenal rekindle their rivalry this weekendCredit: Getty

Derby days give fans the chance to create a starting XI made up of players from both teams, and Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit told talkSPORT that Spurs might have Two players 'maximum'.

This is despite The gunners will miss Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard through suspension and injury respectively.

“I think he's talking nonsense,” he said. O'Hara In response to Petit, before he and Cundy failed to agree on their best XI for the north London derby, with the full match to follow at Sports Bar.

CundyWhat did he say that upset you?

O'Hara:Well, two players, what are you talking about? How many Arsenal players are in the Spurs squad?

Cundy: Well, I'm going to include Van de Ven. I know that (Andy) Goldstein recommended him and they turned him down. I'm going to include (Micky) Van de Ven alongside (William) Saliba.

O'Hara:Yes… Pedro Porro is a better player than Ben White.

Cundy:No, but he is not a friend.

O'HaraYes it is!

Cundy:No, he isn't. He's no better than Ben White.

O'Hara disagreed with Petit and his number of Spurs players.Credit: talkSPORT

He and talkSPORT co-host Cundy discussed a possible starting XI.Credit: talkSPORT

O'Hara was adamant that Porro should be the right backCredit: Getty

O'Hara: Yes, he is! Pedro Porro is an incredible footballer and (Destiny) Udogie plays week in, week out at left back. He was one of the best left backs in the country last season.

Cundy: Was he one of the best in the country? Maybe you've gone a bit overboard…

O'Hara:No, I'm not exaggerating at all.

Former Arsenal player Emmanuel Petit claims only one Tottenham player would make the Arsenal squad

CundyOne of the best in the country?

O'HaraDidn't he make the team of the season?

Cundy: Did he do it? Are you sure about that?

O'Hara:Dude, I'm sure it was close… I think it got in, I'm not 100 percent sure.

(Editor's note: He didn't.)

But they (Arsenal) signed a left-back because their left-back hasn't been very good. So, Emmanuel Petit comes out and says that only two players are coming in…

Cundy:You've won a World Cup, mate, you can say whatever you want…

O'Hara:I know you can say whatever you want, of course you can, of course. But you're talking nonsense.

Cundy insisted that Porro is not as good as Arsenal's WhiteCredit: Getty

Cundy: Okay, I'm going to put three. Van de Ven, (James) Maddison in… (Kai) Havertz up front, Maddison can play where Odegaard does, and I'm going to put (Heung-min) Son on the left. That's for having three there.

O'Hara: I don't agree, mate. Look, without Rice, they have Thomas Partey or Jorginho, right?, to choose from. (Yves) Bissouma is a better player.

Cundy:I don't know if Bissouma is… is he fit? I don't know if he's fit, my friend.

O'Hara:Bissouma is a better player.

Cundy:Ok. I'll tell you now, buddy, I've got three there.

O'HaraObviously (Bukayo) Saka goes on the right and Havertz, at this moment… we have to put him up front, in the middle because he is doing well.

Cundy:And Maddison behind him… Give us your team then!

O'Hara:Well… there is an argument in favor of (Guglielmo) Vicario…

Gunners goalkeeper Raya was chosen to be in goalCredit: Getty

Cundy:Look, J, listen, don't argue with me or yourself, give us your team.

O'Hara:But I just…

CundyGive us your equipment!

O'Hara:It bothered me because, you know, these Arsenal people think they're… real MadridThey literally believe they are Real Madrid.

Cundy:Give us your team, who is in goal?

O'Hara: (David) Raya. Udogie, Van de Ven, Saliba, Porro…

CundySo three of the back four are Spurs?

O'Hara:Yes, 100 percent.

Partey and Bissouma form O'Hara's midfield in Rice's absenceCredit: Getty

Cundy:Okay, go ahead.

O'Hara:So I would say Bissouma and Thomas Partey, I don't know who would be fit.

Cundy:Well, Partey is fit and Jorginho is fit according to what we have…

O'Hara:Maddison, Son, Saka, Havertz. You can't argue with that, there's no argument, you can't argue with that.

CundyDid you know that Arsenal had the best defence in the league last season?

O'Hara: I don't mind.

Cundy:And you have three of the four in the back…

O'Hara:Yes, Saliba was their best player… so Saliba is there.

Arsenal conceded just 29 goals last season, but O'Hara named three Spurs defendersCredit: Getty

Cundy:Saka was their best player… dude, you can't have Porro above Ben White, you can't checkmate.

O'Hara:Dude, the Porro is top quality.

Cundy:No, it's not better than… dude, come on, that's being a bit silly.

O'Hara:Listen, I'm not being stupid!

Cundy:It's a bit silly.

O'HaraAsk any Spurs fan and any Arsenal fan.

Cundy:Well, okay, listen, ask them now!

So that's six Tottenham and five Arsenal in O'Hara's starting XI for the north London derby. How do you rate that?

Here's how O'Hara's combined XI could line up... — Here's how O'Hara's combined XI could line up…

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