The Premier League is paused for the October international break, so Arsenal Insider looks at the best London club XI including Bukayo Saka and five Gunners teammates.

Mikel Arteta has seen a wealth of the Emirates Stadium outfit’s side rise to the top so far this season. Saka has been a shining light in Arsenal’s attempt to win the Premier League title for the first time in 20 years. But other stars are also shining elsewhere in the capital in 2023/24.

Four London clubs feature in the top half of the table, while Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur share the top spot. Spurs only sit in first place via goals scored, having hit home 18 to the 16 of the Gunners. The north London rivals are also the only unbeaten clubs left in the division.

Brentford, Chelsea and Fulham will all hope to find improvements following the international break to move into the top half. Those teams do not have a player in our best London club XI for the 23/24 Premier League term so far. West Ham and Crystal Palace both have one name.

Naturally, Arsenal and Tottenham have the most names in our best London club XI with them atop the Premier League. So, who joins Saka in making the cut after the first eight matches?

GK: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace)

Crystal Palace have a player in our best London club XI for the 23/24 Premier League season so far in Sam Johnstone. The 30-year-old has started all eight of the Eagles’ games and has kept four clean sheets. He has also only conceded seven goals for one of the best records.

Only Arsenal and Manchester City have conceded fewer goals than Crystal Palace so far this season on six. Johnstone starting in each of the Eagles’ eight fixtures also ensures he leads the Golden Glove race. No other Premier League goalkeeper has kept four clean sheets yet.

RB: Ben White (Arsenal)

Arsenal penning the joint-best defensive record so far this term sees three of their defenders make our London club XI. Ben White is one with the 26-year-old emerging as one of the best right-backs in the Premier League. He even started this term impressively as a centre-back.

Arteta returned White to his more natural central spot for the Gunners’ first three fixtures of the campaign. Yet it has not mattered if the Poole native plays centrally or out wide as White has produced. Arsenal rely on White as a diligent defender and for his overlapping presence.

CB: William Saliba (Arsenal)

No defender is more important to Arsenal than William Saliba. His absence at the end of last term with a back injury destroyed their title dreams. But the 22-year-old’s return this season has restored their hopes as he offers pace, authority and a physical presence in the backline.

Saliba underlined his case as one of the best defenders in the Premier League against Erling Haaland, as well. He left the striker to feed off scraps as Arsenal beat Manchester City 1-0 at Emirates Stadium. The Norwegian is usually a goal machine but cut an anonymous presence.

CB: Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal)

Gabriel Magalhaes helped Arsenal silence Haaland and Manchester City with a fine showing of his own. The Brazilian started this season out of Arteta’s line-up amid interest from Saudi Arabia in a last-gasp transfer. But Gabriel has shown why Arsenal refused to see him leave.

Arteta will want Gabriel to fine-tune his passing having occasionally played some loose balls out from the back. Yet it is the 25-year-old’s awareness and desire to fight that has restored Gabriel’s position at Arsenal. He is never afraid to go toe-to-toe and often comes out on top.

LB: Destiny Udogie (Tottenham Hotspur)

Tottenham signed Destiny Udogie in August 2022 but let the left-back stay with Udinese for another season. The 20-year-old has proven to be well worth the wait for Spurs after a fine start to his Premier League career. He also has two assists through eight appearances so far.

Udogie has made the left-back spot at Spurs his own with some outstanding displays under Ange Postecoglou. Tottenham have watched the Italian adapt to a new league and country with ease. He has coped with almost everything thrown at him, except Saka running at him.

CDM: Declan Rice (Arsenal)

Arteta smashed the bank for Arsenal to sign Declan Rice in a club-record transfer from West Ham in July. Yet the 24-year-old slotted in seamlessly in north London to appear as if he had been there for years. The midfielder is already one of the Gunners’ most important players.

Rice’s ability to break up an opponent’s play is a fundamental aspect of Arteta’s plans so far this season. He has repeatedly regained possession and spread play or pushed forward in a box-to-box role. Rice even scored a crucial late goal to help Arsenal beat Manchester United.

CM: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

Martin Odegaard may only have one assist through eight appearances so far this term. But the Arsenal captain has been key to their campaign with his creativity pulling the strings and creating space. He also has three goals having shown a willingness to shoot from distance.

Much of the Gunners’ play often flows through Odegaard as the architect of Arteta’s visions. Whether he is whipping precise crosses into the box, bursting into the area or trying his luck, Odegaard leads by example at Arsenal. Arteta will now hope they are not too reliant on him.

CM: James Ward-Prowse (West Ham United)

Selling Rice to Arsenal took the heart and soul out of West Ham’s midfield. But David Moyes has relished his persistence to sign James Ward-Prowse from Southampton to fill the void at London Stadium. The 28-year-old has been one of the signings of this season for just £30m.

Ward-Prowse has offered two goals and three assists over his seven Premier League games in claret-and-blue. He has simply been immense across the pitch, offering a key defensive and offensive presence. Naturally, Ward-Prowse has also brought a clinical set-pieces threat.

RW: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Saka has battled through an array of injuries already this term as his importance for Arsenal remains untold. The 22-year-old leads Arteta’s side for goals scored (4) and shares the lead for assists (2). He is a nemesis for all left-backs with tricky footwork and very dynamic runs.

The Hale End hero is Arsenal’s game-changer and Saka can create chances even when he appears quieter in games. Not that it is often that he is quiet in games. Saka is their talisman and will be integral to whatever Arsenal achieve in the pursuit of the Premier League trophy.

ST: Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur)

Son Heung-Min took up Tottenham’s captaincy this summer and has justified Postecoglou’s decision. His form at Spurs has also seen Son secure the spot in the London club XI that was Harry Kane’s and his alone. The 31-year-old has scored six goals from eight games this term.

Gone is the often anonymous Son that Tottenham saw under Antonio Conte at this stage of last season. He has relished the responsibilities of being Spurs’ skipper and offers a constant threat. His threat has also been varied after cropping up across Postecoglou’s attacking unit.

LW: James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur)

If Ward-Prowse is not the Premier League’s signing of the summer, James Maddison may be after his start with Tottenham. Spurs took full advantage of Leicester City’s relegation to sign the playmaker for just £40m. They must be wondering why the Foxes did not demand more.

Maddison immediately emerged as Tottenham’s long-sought successor for Christian Eriksen after arriving in north London. His creativity brought new life to what was a dull unit last term and brought Son back to his best. Maddison is never afraid to take charge with Spurs, either.

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