EXCLUSIVE
Arsenal’s stars have impressed this season, but how many of them make it into Mark Goldbridge’s combined title race XI?
With just six games left in what has been an enthralling title race, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City must hold their nerve as the season reaches its business end.
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All three club’s were knocked out of European competition in midweek, leaving domestic duties top of their late-season priorities.
Pep Guardiola’s side lead the way, with the Gunners and Jurgen Klopp’s men two-points adrift and ready to capitalise on any City slip up.
All three of this season’s title challengers boast an abundance of talent and talkSPORT’s Goldbridge faced the unenviable task of naming his team of the season made up solely of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City players.
City and Liverpool dominate the chosen 11, despite the widespread assertion that Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have been the best team over the course of the campaign.
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That's also despite Goldbridge making a very different selection for Premier League Team of the Year - but this was a different challenge, to pick the strongest XI regardless of current form or injuries.
Starting with his choice of goalkeeper and defence, Manchester United fan Goldbridge opted for a Liverpool-heavy back-line.
“He's been injured recently but he’s the best of the three, it would be Alisson from Liverpool in goal for me,” Goldbridge explained. “He’s the best goalkeeper in the world, he’s got that personality.
“At right-back, I want to give a shout out to Ben White. I’d take him over Kyle Walker. This season he’s been incredible, underrated, consistent and a lot quicker than people think.
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“But I’d give it to Trent Alexander-Arnold because I like a full-back who can get forward and when he gets forward, I don’t think there’s anyone who can touch him in the world game.
“Centre-backs, it’s got to be [William] Saliba and [Virgil] van Dijk. They are the two stand out centre-backs in European football, I think, but certainly in the Premier League.
Mark Goldbridge snubs Manchester City as he names Chelsea, Tottenham & Arsenal stars in his Premier League Team Of The Season
“Left-back is difficult,” he added. “Arsenal, for me, haven’t solved that problem, Man City have a centre-back there and Andy Robertson’s been out a lot this season.
“But I would still go with Robertson, he’s the most suitable and most attacking left-back and, when he’s on it, I still believe he’s one of the best left-backs in world football.”
Goldbridge then turned his attention to midfield and admitted choosing the best candidate for the holding role over his favoured stars.
“I think the Player of the Year really should be between [Declan] Rice, Rodri and [Alexis] Mac Allister,” said Goldbridge.
“If you look at the roles they’ve played, they’ve scored big goals. They are the engine room, the conductor and [Mohamed] Salah, [Erling] Haaland and [Phil] Foden have had reasonable seasons. But I think it has been the season of the midfield maestro.
“I’d have to go with Rodri over Rice and Mac Allister, which pains me as I actually prefer Rice and Mac Allister. He’s the best holding midfielder in the game.
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“I’d go with De Bruyne. he’s clearly one of the best players in Europe and just a magician.
“The third midfield is interesting because you could throw a Rice or a Mac Allister in there but I’d want to be more controlling and I would actually go with Bernardo Silva.
“I’ve gone with an all-Man City midfield three, which shocks me because they’ve not had their best season, but I think the balance of those three works when they’re on it.”
Goldbridge opted to shuffle two of his front three away from their favoured positions to best accommodate them alongside the Premier League most lethal marksman.
“I’m going to have to move somebody to their unnatural position because of the front three I’d have to go with," he explained.
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“I’d go Salah on the right and move [Bukayo] Saka to the left and Erling Haaland up front, because Arsenal have done well but do they really have a striker who can compete with Haaland? No.
“I do like Darwin Nunez but, with the team I’ve built, it has to be Haaland. He’s the best penalty box striker in the world.”
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So there is it. Liverpool make up the bulk of Goldbridge’s title race team of the season with five players, Manchester City boast four while Arsenal just two representatives.
Do you agree?
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