Ian Wright picks just one Arsenal player in ‘Southern XI’ but finds room for six from Chelsea
Just one Arsenal player is worthy of a place in a ‘Southern XI’ compared to six from Chelsea and three from Tottenham, according to Ian Wright.
The idea of a Premier League ‘All-Star’ game involving sides picked from clubs in the north and south was floated by Romelu Lukaku this week.
The Manchester United striker’s proposal was put to Wright who was asked to select an XI plucked from the Premier League teams in the south.
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Mesut Ozil was the only player from Arsenal deemed worthy of inclusion.
‘Ozil in that team would be wonderful because he’s got brilliant players around him,’ Wright told Sky Sports.
The most represented team was Chelsea, with Wright selecting Thibaut Courtois, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso, N’Golo Kante, Eden Hazard and Willian.
From Tottenham he picked Toby Alderweireld, Mousa Dembele and Harry Kane.
‘Dembele is my favourite player at the moment,’ Wright explained.
The last remaining place went to Cedric Soares.
‘I think he’s brilliant,’ Wright said of the Southampton defender. ‘I’m surprised they can keep hold of him… He should be in there [the mix] if the top clubs are looking for a new right back in the summer transfer window.’
Ian Wright’s Southern XI…
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Wright’s selection meant he snubbed players from Watford, Bournemouth, Brighton, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Swansea.
‘That’s beating anyone,’ he said of his XI.
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