Choosing a ‘Best London XI’ for the 2021/22 Premier League season is no easy task.
Does Christian Norgaard’s superb debut campaign in the top-flight earn him a place ahead of Chelsea’s World Cup winning superstar N’Golo Kante? Is there a way to get Heung-Min Son, Martin Odegaad, Wilfried Zaha, Jarrod Bowen and Mason Mount in the same side without coming over all, well, Garth Crooks-y?
But, hey, it’s a game of opinions. Right?
Aaron Ramsdale – Arsenal
Few players epitomise the fickle nature of footballing narratives better than Arsenal’s new number one. Not so long ago, the critics were queuing up to ask why on earth Mikel Arteta had just splashed out £25 million for a goalkeeper who had suffered relegation in each of the last two seasons. That Ramsdale’s doubters are now about as quiet as a church mouse at the Crucible is testament to the way he has acquitted himself during an excellent debut season at the Emirates.
Ramsdale’s remarkable reflex stop against Leicester City is a leading contender for the ‘Save of the Season’.
Reece James – Chelsea
Who would have imagined that Chelsea’s homegrown right-back would score as many goals during 2021/22 (five) as Thomas Tuchel’s new £97.5 million centre-forward? James has taken his game to a whole new level this term and, if it wasn’t for a certain Liverpool-based assist-machine, he would surely be one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s team-sheet ahead of the Qatar World Cup.
Craig Dawson – West Ham United
That Ballon ‘D’Orson’ nickname may be somewhat tongue in cheek but the 31-year-old defender is more than deserving of his cult hero reputation at the London Stadium. Dawson, arguably the most in-form English centre-back in the game right now, would run through 10 miles of broken glass barefoot in pursuit of three valuable points.
In fact, he’s been so impressive that Dawson gets the nod in our XI ahead of Tottenham’s all-action Argentine Christian Romero.
Antonio Rudiger – Chelsea
There is a reason why Tuchel was so disappointed to learn that Rudiger will not be extending his contract at Stamford Bridge. The colossal German – a natural-born leader on and off the pitch – has been playing the best football of his career since Chelsea’s former Borussia Dortmund and PSG coach replaced Frank Lampard in the Stamford Bridge dugout.
Rudiger looks increasingly likely to become the rock at the heat of Real Madrid’s backline next term.
Tyrick Mitchell – Crystal Palace
Edging out Kieran Tierney, Marcos Alonso and West Ham’s set-piece wizard Aaron Cresswell, Mitchell’s inclusion is a reflection of his reliable performances and never-say-die spirit. Crystal Palace’s academy graduate was handed an England debut against Switzerland in March. And, with Luke Shaw struggling and Ben Chilwell injured, don’t bet against him earning a seat on the plane to Qatar.
Declan Rice – West Ham United
Who else? A ball-winner and a ball-player rolled into one, Rice is maybe the most complete midfielder anywhere in the Premier League. The driving force behind the remarkable resurgence of a West Ham side who, in the space of two years, have gone from the heat of a relegation battle to within touching distance of a major European final.
Christian Norgaard – Brentford
Christian Eriksen, Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney may have hogged the headlines. But Norgaard is the industrial-strength superglue that holds Thomas Frank’s coupon-busting Brentford side together.
No one in the division has managed more than Norgaard’s 3.2 successful tackles per game on average, per WhoScored. A statistic that earns the Dane a place in our team ahead of James McArthur and N’Golo Kante.
Jarrod Bowen – West Ham United
West Ham’s top scorer, Bowen is living proof that there is value to be found in the lower leagues. He’s blossomed since outgrowing a relatively small Humberside pond, thriving in much choppier waters.
Another player who, like Mitchell, will surely be in contention when the World Cup rolls around.
Mason Mount – Chelsea
With all due respect to Martin Odegaard, Connor Gallagher, Emile Smith Rowe and the remarkable Christian Eriksen, there was one clear frontrunner for the number ten role in our London XI. One of five players in this team who came through the ranks to become a first-team regular, Mount has scored more goals than in any of his two previous seasons at Chelsea (12).
He even netted a first senior hat-trick in October’s 7-0 thumping of Norwich City.
Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
Whether on the right, on the left, through the middle or in defence, Saka produces 8/10 performances week-in, week-out. Arsenal’s stylish number seven has carried the London giants on his still-broadening shoulders at times over the last two years, bouncing back brilliantly from his penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final.
- How Rangers’ XI could look in 22/23, including 5 new signings
- How West Ham’s XI could look in 22/23 with 4 new signings
Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur
2021/22 could be Harry Edward Kane MBE’s worst top-flight campaign since breaking into the Tottenham team nearly a decade ago. Statistically speaking, of course.
But don’t let the numbers fool you. After a sluggish start to the season, Kane has hit almost unprecedented heights at times under Antonio Conte. His virtuoso performance in the 3-2 win away at league leaders Manchester City remains one of the best of the modern Premier League era.
Is there a better finisher – or a better passer – in English football?
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