Dejan Kulusevski nowhere to be seen, James Maddison stand-out star – Tottenham v Aston Villa combined XI
Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend when they host high-flying Aston Villa in one of the games of the weekend.
Spurs have had a fantastic start to the season but have lost their last two in a row, while Villa bounced back from a shock defeat to Nottingham Forest to beat Fulham last time out before the international break.
The teams sit in fourth and fifth place in the league currently with just one point separating them, so what do the stats suggest a combined XI between the sides would look like? We have taken a look using WhoScored and FBRef.
On paper, the goalkeeper position is a tough one to call. Statistically, it’s just as difficult. Emiliano Martinez has played one game less than Guglielmo Vicario this season but has conceded one more goal (16-15).
The Argentine’s save percentage stands at 63.6% in the Premier League compared to Vicario’s exceptional 76.9% and their passing stats are close with Martinez having the slight edge with his success rate while averaging fewer passes per game.
But the goalkeeper stats show that Vicario is the better shot-stopper and that means he should get the nod between the sticks.
Defence is an interesting one too with just two goals difference in what they’ve conceded this season and thus it should come as no surprise that there is an even split across the back four.
Two of Tottenham’s stand-out performers this season have been Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven, and statistically, they have been better than Villa’s pairing of Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres.
Argentine star Romero is the best of the bunch with his fantastic defensive statistics placing him in the top 7% of central defenders in Europe this season when it comes to tackles.
Romero and Van de Ven both average more tackles per game, more clearances per game and have the best pass success rates of the four and that should establish their place in the team.
The full-backs are a different situation though, with Matty Cash and Lucas Digne statistically outperforming both Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie quite substantially both offensively and defensively to earn their places out wide.
Midfield is an incredibly difficult call on paper but statistically, it’s actually quite a clear split.
Douglas Luiz is the stand-out performer currently with five goals in 12 games, the most shots per game and the most key passes per game. His partner was a bit tougher to decide, but Yves Bissouma gets the nod.
Bissouma has the best pass success rate of the four in contention, is the best dribbler by a country mile, gets fouled the most often and averages the most pass attempts per game also.
In the number ten role, it’s a no-brainer and the stats back up that Tottenham’s James Maddison is in the team ahead of John McGinn.
Dubbed “special” by Heung-min Son earlier this season, the playmaker has been one of the best players in the division this season and earned his spot in the side with three goals and five assists so far. He outshines McGinn in almost every aspect of the attacking game and is clearly the top dog in this side.
The winger positions may come as a bit of surprise to Spurs fans because the right wing is where both teams have their better players, but the stats suggest that it’s Moussa Diaby of Aston Villa who has had the better season ahead of Dejan Kulusevski so far.
Diaby has got three goals and three assists this season, more than Kulusevski’s three goals and zero assists, while the Frenchman is also averaging more shots per game, has a better pass success rate and has been successful with more long balls and through balls.
Defensively the Swedish star has been far better, but we want our wingers on the pitch to be a threat and that means Diaby gets the nod.
On the left, it’s a battle between Nicolo Zaniolo and Richarlison, with the Brazilian coming out on top by quite a way in almost every statistic despite what would be perceived to be poor performances this season.
Up front was the most difficult call between the in-form Ollie Watkins and Tottenham captain Son.
Son has managed eight goals and one assist for Tottenham compared to Watkins’ six goals and five assists this season, while Watkins is averaging more key passes per game too.
But Son is the better dribbler (0.9 dribbles per game), gets fouled more often and is dispossessed less when it comes to his ball retention ability he is by far and away the better option.
In other Tottenham news, the club already have the perfect cover for their defensive duo that could save them millions.