Darren Bent risks wrath of Tottenham fans with Arsenal and Spurs 'combined' XI

The former Spurs striker compiled his best line up featuring players from Arsenal and Tottenham ahead of this weekend's clash between the pair.

Bent, an avid Arsenal fan, spent two years at White Hart Lane between 2007 and 2009, scoring 25 times.

However, Bent has been quick to display his true allegiances by naming a north London XI without one Spurs player.

Despite an encouraging start to the season, second-placed Spurs have been unable to impress Bent enough with surprise omissions handed to in-form duo Heung-min Son and James Maddison.

Speaking on talKSPORT drive, Bent left co-host Andy Goldstein astounded by his picks but was forthcoming with his reasoning, claiming Arsenal have the better overall players.

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Bent said: "Goalkeeper, I'm going [David] Raya or [Aaron] Ramsdale. I think they are better goalkeepers.

"Ben White at right back, brilliant. Two centre halves [William] Saliba and Gabriel. I think for Arsenal (White) is a right-back. I think the partnership between Saliba and Gabriel is so strong you can't break that up.

"Left-back [Oleksandr] Zinchenko, the whole inverted midfield player, Zinchenko is fantastic at that. Tierney just couldn't play that inverted role as well as Zinchenko, he was about straight lines. We had [Jurrien] Timber as well but he got injured.

"Midfield I'm going [Declan] Rice, [Thomas] Partey, [Martin] Odegaard. He [James Maddison] doesn't play holding midfield does he?

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"Saka, Gabriel Jesus down the middle and [Gabriel] Martinelli. The reason I've not put Son in there is he wasn't great last season, he scored a hat-trick playing up top, he's not played well on the left."

Sunday's clash at the Emirates will go a long way to judging whether Bent was on the money with his controversial line-up.

Both side's go into the derby having registered 13 points from their opening five fixtures with Spurs edging Arsenal on goal difference.

Arsenal hope to cap off a superb week following wins over Everton and PSV Eindhoven adding to captain Martin Odegaard signing a new long-term deal at the club.