In an exclusive interview with 888sport, former Arsenal and Middlesbrough striker Jeremie Aliadiere has expressed concern at the Gunners’ transfer strategy that risks seeing last season’s fifth place finishers trail even further behind their rivals.

“It’s frustrating when you see a club like Leicester, who with all respect to them are a smaller club, spending £75m so far this summer yet Arsenal can’t seemingly afford to spend the money that Leicester can. It’s difficult to understand where the money goes.”

“I remember when we moved to the Emirates and Arsene telling us that money will be tied up in the stadium for the next ten years so and that transfer fees will be a bit limited.

"But that has passed and the stadium has been paid off. Given that, you can understand the frustrations of the supporters when it’s reported that there is only a transfer budget of £45m.”

"There has been talk that Arsenal want Wilfried Zaha who Crystal Palace supposedly value at £80m and we were reported to have offered them half the money - £40m. If that’s true, it seems a bit ridiculous and could be seen as disrespectful to Crystal Palace.”

The financial restrictions placed on Unai Emery by the club’s board have led to petitions and protest from the Emirates faithful. Yet if it’s angered the 36-year-old Invincible he is equally baffled by how they’re reportedly set to spend what little money is available. 

“Defensively is where Arsenal need to strengthen the most and they’re pretty close to signing the French Under 20 international (William) Saliba.

"But I have heard they’re going to sign him then loan him back to France for a season so I’m a bit surprised by that: spending thirty million on a defender and giving him back straight away.

"I don’t understand that type of business. I’m not sure if right now we can afford to buy a player for the future, we need players to come in and improve the team right now because that’s where we struggled last year.”

All of which has only added further pressure on Arsenal’s coach Emery who has been graced with a season to acclimatise to English football but from this point on will be expected to guide the North London giants back into top four contention at the very least.

Though Aliadiere has a good deal of sympathy for the Spaniard, he is also realistic.

“This is a massive season for him and he needs to start well, especially because if we don’t sign any big players the fans won’t be best pleased.

"If they start slowly it is going to be very difficult for Unai Emery and the club and the fans will turn on the manager. He’s got a big task then in that opening month.”

If having scant funds to improve his squad ties one hand behind Emery’s back then he is just as disadvantaged by clearly not trusting his star player Mesut Ozil.

Here Aliadiere – who states he is as much a Premier League match-going fan as he is a retired player working in the media – is obviously conflicted.

“It’s a tough one because I feel when he plays he does bring something different to the team and also Lacazette and Aubameyang clearly enjoy playing with him.

"Obviously though the manager sees things we don’t see and maybe in training his work-rate is not there and work-rate is really important to Emery. I think they have a different philosophy on how to play the game.”

“It’s a difficult situation and I can see both sides. Arsenal right now need to sell in order to bring in other players and when you look at the supposed breakdown between player and manager last year if they get an opportunity to sell him I would understand if they decided to do that.”

During the French front-man’s time in the capital he was part of the squad that pulled off the incredible feat of going through an entire campaign undefeated.

At the time it felt like it could never be repeated but such is the duopoly Manchester City and Liverpool have on the Premier League right now that Aliadiere is candid enough to admit that it just might.

This leads us onto the awkward gauging of where Arsenal lie presently in relation to Guardiola and Klopp’s creations.

“When we were close to finishing in the top four last season you felt we were only two players short maybe defensively from really pushing on.

"But now the others are getting even stronger so the top four is possible – but difficult again - but the top two is impossible. “

It is not all doom and gloom in N5 of course. Arsenal fans owe Aliadiere a big debt of gratitude for persuading his then team-mate Matteo Guandouzi to head across the channel rather than join an unspecified European club and the 20-year-old is expected to kick on once again after a very promising debut season.

In Maitland-Niles, meanwhile, they possess a talent capable of lighting up the Emirates for years to come.

“I rate Maitland-Niles really highly. With injuries last season it’s been tough for him on that level but he’s got all the attributes to become a top player.

"I think this season could be really big for him because it looks like Arsenal doesn’t have a lot of money to spend so I’m sure they will be counting on him.

Quickfire Questions:

Who wins the 2019/20 Premier League title?

Manchester City.

Who wins the 2019/20 Premier League Golden Boot?

Harry Kane.

Who wins the 2019/20 Champions League?

Barcelona.

Boxing is one of the most popular sports on the planet and the heavyweight division attracts plenty of attention. With so much hype surrounding these fights, boxing betting odds can be found months in advance but the heavyweight division isn’t always easy to predict.

In June 2019, Andy Ruiz Jr shocked the boxing universe as he defeated world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on his United States debut. The Madison Square Garden crowd in attendance were left in shock – it was the biggest heavyweight moment in 30 years.

With so many elite fighters in the heavyweight division, a surprise victory can occur at any moment. Without further ado, we take a look back at some of heavyweight boxing’s biggest and most memorable shock results…

Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman (1974)

Muhammad Ali was incredibly popular during his hey day but many believed that the then-undefeated George Foreman would come out on top in 1974. After defeating the legendary Joe Frazier, Foreman had developed a reputation as the best puncher in the division.

However, Ali defied the odds to claim a shock success. Absorbing Foreman’s powerful hits from the start, Ali hung in there and produced one of his greatest ever performances to out-tactic his opponent.

That ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ fight has gone down in history as one of heavyweight boxing’s most iconic moments. And to be fair, both fighters rank highly on most lists of the greatest ever heavyweight fighters…

Mike Tyson vs Buster Douglas (1990)

By 1990, boxing fans had started to label Mike Tyson as the most complete heavyweight boxer of all-time. So when he travelled to Tokyo for a routine defence of his three heavyweight titles, nobody batted an eyelid.

Step forward, Buster Douglas. A 42/1 shot with betting sites, Douglas was a huge underdog but he defied those hefty odds to win handsomely.

His mother tragically passed away in the build-up to the fight but Douglas kept in control of his emotions and channelled his aggression to stop Tyson in the 10^th round. To this day, most believe that Tyson’s loss is the most shocking moment in heavyweight boxing history.

Lennox Lewis vs Oliver McCall (1994)

Back in 1994, Lennox Lewis was a massive draw. The most dominant heavyweight boxer of his time, Lewis was scheduled to make the fourth defence of his WBC title against the 24-5 Oliver McCall.

On paper, it looked like a straightforward title defence. However, what happened next was unbelievable. McCall caught Lewis with a ferocious right hand on the chin just 31 seconds into the second round and that was the end of the fight.

The Wembley crowd couldn’t believe their eyes and boxing fans still discuss the outcome of that fight today. Lewis went on to bigger and better things but heavyweight followers will never forget his first professional defeat.

Wladimir Klitschko vs Tyson Fury (2015)

Winning in your opponent’s backyard is never easy but that is exactly what Tyson Fury did against Wladimir Klitschko. The great Ukrainian had dominated the heavyweight division for the best part of 10 years but the balance of power shifted in November 2015.

A confident Fury kept Klitschko on the back foot throughout the fight, winning on all three of the judges’ scorecards. As a spectacle, it wasn’t the most entertaining of fights but it will go down in history as a key moment in the heavyweight division.

Arguably the best heavyweight boxer right now, Fury is the lineal heavyweight champion of the world and he is eyeing up Deontay Wilder’s WBC title.

Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr (2019)

Anthony Joshua was widely regarded as the top heavyweight boxer on the planet before his shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr. Heading into the bout, Joshua had a perfect 22-0 record with 21 wins by way of knockout.

However, his American debut didn’t go to plan. The British fighter went down four times in total before the referee stopped the bout, with the result sending shockwaves across the heavyweight division.

At 1/33, Joshua was expected to beat Ruiz with one hand tied behind his back. Instead, the British fighter was left to rue a miserable US debut as Ruiz became the first Mexican fighter to be crowned heavyweight champion of the world.

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

We’ve created a complete team profile so that all Watford fans will be in the know, with the latest and most interesting facts around Watford FC – from historical statistics to betting odds, you will find all the answers regarding the club.

Watford Betting Tips, Predictions & Winning Odds

The 2018/19 campaign was interesting from a Watford perspective. The Hornets missed out on a top half finish after a disappointing end to the season and Javi Gracia’s side were thrashed 6-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

However, simply reaching England’s showpiece fixture was an incredible achievement. Punters can keep up with all of the latest betting news, tips and odds on Watford via the 888sport blog.

If everything goes to plan, we could see the Hornets climb the Premier League ladder in 2019/20 and a top half finish is not out of the question.

Watford - 2019/20 Squad

At the time of writing, Watford have made just one major signing ahead of the 2019/20 season. Craig Dawson will bring invaluable Premier League experience to Vicarage Road and he could play a key role for Watford this season.

Watford’s squad for 2019/20 is similar to that of 2018/19. Ben Foster is an excellent goalkeeper and he could be decisive for the Hornets this campaign.

Looking further up the pitch, Gerard Deulofeu was key to Watford’s FA Cup journey and his impact and influence, along with the likes of Troy Deeney and Roberto Pereyra, should help the Hornets in 2019/20.

Who Were Watford's Top Scorers Last Season?

1. Gerard Deulofeu – 12 goals

2. Troy Deeney – 11 goals

3. Andre Gray – 9 goals

4. Roberto Pereyra – 6 goals

5. Abdoulaye Doucoure – 5 goals

Who Are Watford's Top Scorers Of All-Time?

1. Luther Blissett – 148 goals

2. Tommy Barnett – 144 goals

3. Troy Deeney – 123 goals

4. Ross Jenkins – 118 goals

5. Cliff Holton – 96 goals

Who Owns Watford Football Club?

Watford are owned by Italian businessman Gino Pozzo, the son of fellow entrepreneur Giampaolo Pozzo. Pozzo lives in the local area and is heavily involved in the day-to-day running of the club, as well as taking an active role in transfer negotiations.

What Are Watford's Biggest Rivalries?

Watford’s closest rivals are Luton Town. Geographically, the two teams are just 16 miles apart and that proximity has contributed to the rivalry. Their first head-to-head took place in 1898 and the rivalry has intensified since.

With such a big gap in terms of league position between the two teams, it might be some time before Watford and Luton clash again unless drawn to face each other in one of the cup competitions.

What Are Watford's Highest Salaries? How Much Is The Club Worth?

The total wage bill for Watford in 2019/20 is approximately £45 million. According to Spotrac, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Andre Gray are Watford’s biggest earners, with the two Hornets stars on £70,000 per week.

In 2016, Watford agreed a three-year kit sponsorship deal with Adidas and the Hornets’ new shirt for the 2019/20 Premier League season has already been released. Punters will be looking forward to watching Watford in the new kit this campaign.

Watford's Most Memorable Moments & Greatest Achievements

Troy Deeney’s dramatic winner against Leicester City went viral and gave Watford the platform to build for playoff success.

Facing a stoppage time penalty that would’ve put the Hornets out, David Nugent’s spot-kick was saved before an incredible Watford break led to a decisive Deeney strike. Vicarage Road went into meltdown and that is still one of the club’s finest moments.

Watford: Fan Profile

Without a doubt, Watford’s biggest celebrity fan is Sir Elton John. Mila Kunis and Jennifer Aniston have both pledged allegiance to the Hornets at some point but Elton John regularly visits Vicarage Road and he will be hoping that Watford can enjoy more success in the coming years.

Vicarage Road, Watford

Vicarage Road has been the home of Watford since the stadium was opened in 1922.

With a maximum capacity of 21,577 spectators, Vicarage Road is one of the Premier League’s smaller grounds and Watford will be looking to expand the stadium further in the coming years if they maintain their top flight status.

With a stand now officially named after Watford super fan Elton John, Vicarage Road continues to grow and it won’t be long before 30,000 Hornets fans are attending the stadium on a weekly basis.

Famous Watford Legends

Luther Blissett is a name that is already drilled into Watford’s prestigious history. The Hornets all-time record goal scorer was phenomenal in his hey day and Troy Deeney is the present-day version of the striker.

Deeney is the face of Watford at this moment in time and Gracia will be relying on his goals to keep Watford heading in the right direction towards the top half of the Premier League table.

We’ve created a complete team profile so that all West Ham United fans will be in the know, with the latest and most interesting facts around West Ham United FC – from historical statistics to betting odds, you will find all the answers regarding the club.

West Ham United Betting Tips, Predictions & Winning Odds

West Ham United secured a top-half Premier League finish in 2018/19, winning their final three games of the season to snatch 10^th place.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side will be quietly confident of following that up with another top-half effort in 2019/20 and 888sport football odds show the Hammers at 5/4 to finish in the top 10.

Punters can keep up with the latest West Ham United news and betting tips throughout 2019/20 and beyond!

West Ham United - 2019/20 Squad

All in all, West Ham’s squad for 2019/20 is similar to that of 2018/19. Despite plenty of interest from big clubs in the transfer market, rising star Declan Rice looks set to stay at West Ham for another year.

Lukasz Fabianski gives the Hammers a reliable pair of hands in goal and Pellegrini is likely to place emphasis on a solid, defensive approach ahead of the 2019/20 Premier League season.

The Hammers invested a club record £45 million to sign striker Sebastian Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt and West Ham fans will be expecting the 25-year-old to hit the ground running at London Stadium.

With Marko Arnautovic heading out of the West Ham exit door this summer, Haller could become the main man at West Ham in the not-so-distant future.

Who Were West Ham United's Top Scorers Last Season?

1. Marko Arnautovic – 11 goals

2. Felipe Anderson – 10 goals

3. Javier Hernandez – 8 goals

4. Michail Antonio – 7 goals

5. Lucas Perez – 6 goals

Who Are West Ham's Top Scorers Of All-Time?

1. Vic Watson – 326 goals

2. Geoff Hurst – 249 goals

3. Jimmy Ruffell – 166 goals

4. John Dick – 166 goals

5. Tony Cottee – 146 goals

Who Owns West Ham United Football Club?

David Sullivan is the majority shareholder with 51.1% ownership of West Ham United. David Gold owns 35.1% of the football club while WHU LLC have a 10% share and 3.8% is owned by other investors.

What Are West Ham United's Biggest Rivalries?

West Ham have an intense rivalry with Millwall. The teams first competed against each other in 1899/90 and the geographical location of both clubs in those days fueled the hatred.

Fortunately, West Ham and Millwall don’t play against each other that often these days, with the Hammers in the Premier League and Millwall plying their trade in the Championship.

Like with most London clubs, West Ham supporters also hate Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

On the pitch, West Ham enjoyed their fair share of success in these fixtures back in their hey day but the Hammers have struggled against the Premier League’s bigger clubs in recent times. Who knows, 2019/20 could be their year to get some revenge…

What Are West Ham's Highest Salaries? How Much Is The Club Worth?

According to Spotrac, West Ham’s total player wage bill stands at £62 million for the 2019/20 campaign. Javier Hernandez is the highest earner, with the former Manchester United striker set to make over £7 million from his £140,000 weekly salary.

Ahead of the 2019/20 Premier League season, West Ham United confirmed that Umbro would continue as the club’s official technical partner for the next five years.

Umbro will produce a special commemorative kit next season to pay tribute to West Ham’s 125-year anniversary.

West Ham's Most Memorable Moments & Greatest Achievements

Older supporters will recall West Ham’s incredible FA Cup final victory over Arsenal in 1980.

The Hammers were playing in the old Second Division back then while Arsenal were plying their trade in the league above – most neutrals expected the Gunners to win that match. However, West Ham defied the odds to give their fans a second FA Cup success in the space of five years.

It would be foolish to ignore the contributions of West Ham stars during the 1966 World Cup. Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst combined for four goals throughout the tournament, including Hurst’s famous hat-trick in the final.

As England captain, Bobby Moore was pivotal and he remains the only player to lead the Three Lions to World Cup glory. Without these three West Ham players, England would still be chasing their first World Cup trophy.

West Ham United: Fan Profile

West Ham fans developed a bad reputation back in the days of football hooliganism but that era is well and truly over. The Hammers are incredibly passionate, with chants starting in all areas of the London Stadium.

While the atmosphere isn’t quite as imposing as it was at Upton Park, West Ham fans are still loud and proud of their history and heritage.

There is a long list of celebrity Hammers, including but not limited to Ray Winstone, Russell Brand, Danny Dyer and Lennox Lewis.

West Ham fans tend to be from London’s East End but they also have a popular following worldwide, which was evident during their 2019/20 pre-season tour of China.

London Stadium, Stratford

Built in 2012 for the Olympic Games in London, the London Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium.

West Ham moved to the venue in August 2016, with over 50,000 season tickets sold ahead of their first Premier League campaign at the London Stadium. While there was some resentment at first, the Hammers have now adjusted to life in their new surroundings.

Prior to moving to the London Stadium, West Ham played their games at Upton Park – otherwise known as the Boleyn Ground.

Upton Park opened in 1904 and closed its doors 112 years later; the Boleyn Ground will live long in the memory with fans and it is widely regarded as West Ham’s spiritual home.

Famous West Ham Legends

Billy Bonds is the most famous player in West Ham’s long and illustrious history, winning the Hammer of the Year award four times throughout his career.

During that era, Frank Lampard Sr, Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking all came through the famous West Ham academy and earned their own status as West Ham legends.

In more recent times, Mark Noble has committed himself to the club since breaking into the first team as a youngster and he is on the cusp of breaking into the top 10 for all-time appearances.

In fact, he is the only current West Ham player to make more than 200 appearances, with Winston Reid the next best with 194 games played.

We may well be in the middle of the flat season but already National Hunt aficionados are working out their horse racing tips for the forthcoming 2019/20 season.

As you are well aware National Hunt racing never really stops as there is a pretty robust summer jumps schedule, however the “official” season starts in October and finishes in April.

Let’s take a look at five jump races you can’t afford to miss next season:

Betfair Chase (23/11)

Although many people regard the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby as the first big race of the season, but The Betfair Chase (registered as the Lancashire Chase) is the race that really kicks things off as it is also the first leg of the very lucrative Triple Crown.

The inaugural Betfair Chase, run over 3 miles, took place in 2005, when  Kingscliff beat a quality field including Gold Cup winner Kicking King and the multi Grade One winning Beef or Salmon.

Kauto Star’s name is synonymous with The Betfair Chase after he captured it on four occasions between 2006 and 2011.

The Paul Nicholls-trained superstar was so highly revered by Haydock Park Racecourse and fans alike, that a statue was erected in his honour just inside the main entrance.

This Grade One race always attracts the very best chasers around. In more recent years, Bristol De Mai made it a second consecutive win in 2018 beating the Gold Cup winner Native River and favourite, Might Bite.

King George VI Chase (26/12)

It’s the must see race of the Christmas period, a race that literally gave us several white Christmases back in the 1980’s when Desert Orchid was in his pomp.

This winter contest makes up the second leg of the The Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown.  For the last few seasons Jockey Club Racecourses have offered a £1million bonus to any horse that wins the Betfair Chase, the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The race is quite unique in that it has been won by young up and coming chasers, two milers that are stepping up in distance , future Gold Cup winners and of course defending champions.

The King George VI Chase itself is a Grade One contest for four-year-old horses and above, run over a distance of 3 miles at Kempton Park Racecourse on Boxing Day. Nineteen fences are jumped in total. The race was first run in February 1937 and was named in honour of the new monarch, King George VI.

Trainer Paul Nicholls won a record breaking 10^th King George VI Chase at Kempton with his Clan Des Obeaux and is understandably the most successful trainer in King George history.

Champion Hurdle (10/03)

Naturally the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is always eagerly awaited and the feature race of the day is the hotly contested Champion Hurdle, which attracts the best hurdlers from Ireland and the UK.

The Champion Hurdle is open to horses aged four years and above and is run on the Old Course over a distance of 2 miles and 110 yards.

The first ever Champion Hurdle took place in 1927 and was won by Blaris but it was the horse that won in 1928 that captured the public’s imagination.

After his Champion Hurdle victory, Brown Jack went on to win the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot on six occasions, a Goodwood Cup, Doncaster Cup, Chester Cup and The Ebor Handicap.

Three-time winner Istabraq (1998-2000) helped launch the career of the now Classic trainer, Aidan O'Brien. He was odds on to become the first four-time winner of the race in 2001 but was denied a chance to do it when The Festival was lost to a foot and mouth outbreak. 

In 2019, Gavin Cromwell sent out Espoir D'Allen to land the UK’s greatest hurdle race, and became the first five-year-old to land the prize since Katchit in 2008.

Espoir D'Allen, who carried the colours of J P McManus, and was ridden by Mark Walsh, scored by 15 lengths and will be aimed once again at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham Gold Cup (13/03)

The Gold Cup is regarded as the Blue Riband of National Hunt steeple chasing and has been won by some absolute greats over the years.

It’s the race every jockey, trainer and owner wants to win and is viewed by some in the business as even being ahead of the Grand National on their wish list.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup as it is known today began in 1924 on the Old Course and was won by a five-year-old called Red Splash.

The most successful horse in Gold Cup history is Golden Miller who won the race five times during the 1930's. In the modern era, Arkle won the race three times in a row in the 1960’s and the Henrietta Knight trained Best Mate won the race three consecutive times from 2002.

Today the race takes place over 22 fences and 3 miles 2 and a half furlongs, with the famous uphill finish having an impact on almost every single renewal.

In 2019, Irish jumps training maestro Willie Mullins finally got the Gold Cup monkey off his back when his Al Boum Photo took the spoils.

The seven-year-old gelding travelled well throughout the race and took the lead at the second-last fence, scoring at odds of 12/1. It’s certainly odds-on that the stables at Closutton in County Carlow will be sending challengers to contest the 2020 Gold Cup.

Grand National (4/04)

Ever since 1839, when a horse called Lottery won the inaugural race and Captain Becher fell at the brook, the Grand National has grown into one of the world’s greatest races- a race that totally captures people’s imaginations.

The Grand National is run over the famous National Course at Aintree and consists of two laps of 16 fences, the first 14 of which are jumped twice. The horses run over a total distance of 4 miles 514 yards.

The Grand National has made the likes Ginger McCain and Red Rum, Bob Champion and Aldaniti and Jenny Pitman and Corbiere household names, but in recent times the race has been dominated and gained new publicity due to a new duo, that being Tiger Roll and Davy Russell.

Tiger Roll rode in with back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2019 and even though his owner, Michael O’Leary, says the horse probably won’t be back for the hat trick attempt.

Nevertheless, bookmakers are taking no chances and make him a general 7/1 chance in the latest horse racing odds to win the 2020 race.

It’s yet another National Hunt race you cannot afford to miss!

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Since the Premier League started in 1992/93, it has been home to some of the world’s best footballers.

From the early days, dominated by Manchester United to more recent years and the success of Manchester City and Chelsea, the Premier League has always had players who are considered among the best on the planet in their position.

Whether it’s the best league in the world or not is a debate for another time, but there’s no questioning the sheer talent that Premier League fans have witnessed over the last near-three decades.

This article is the result of an unenviable task of picking the greatest ever Premier League XI. There are some special footballers who had to be left out.

It’s a very attacking 4-2-2-2/4-3-3 in case you’re wondering how this would play out on this pitch…

Peter Schmeichel

Peter Schmeichel actually arrived in England a year before the Premier League began, signing with Manchester United for £505,000 in 1991.

He went on to play eight Premier League campaigns with the Red Devils, collecting five winners’ medals, three FA Cups and that famous Champions League as United won the treble in 1999.

He was crowned Player of the Season in 1995/96, and remains the only goalkeeper to win the award.

An imposing, even intimidating figure, Schmeichel is as iconic as goalkeepers come. His spells at Aston Villa and Manchester City further supported his case for this position, as he proved not just a great peak, but longevity, too.

Gary Neville

This one was a no-brainer.

A member of the Class of ’92, and now one of the best football pundits around, Gary Neville has this position in the Greatest XI locked down.

Never flashy, not the quickest, strongest or tallest, Neville was an intelligent footballer, who excelled at reading the game and was a tireless worker down the right flank, making him a constant threat on the overlap – as David Beckham regularly benefited from.

If that wasn’t enough, Neville made over 600 appearances for Manchester United, won nine Premier League titles and was named in the PFA Team of the Season on five occasions.

John Terry

The centre-backs are one of the most competitive areas on the pitch, but Chelsea legend John Terry gets the nod.

Terry broke through in the 2000/01 campaign, and along with Frank Lampard, Petr Cech and Didier Drogba, formed the Chelsea spine through the mid-2000s and early 2010s.

Terry at his best was arguably the best central defender in the world, earning him four selections to the UEFA Team of the Year.

Chelsea’s defence in Jose Mourinho’s first spell was impenetrable – Terry was a huge part of that, not just as a footballer, but a leader, marshalling his troops at the back.

An underrated passer too, the former England captain was more than comfortable playing out from the back when required.

Rio Ferdinand

Joining Terry at the heart of defence is former West Ham, Leeds and Manchester United man Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand’s central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic could have been put here, as could Vincent Kompany or Tony Adams.

His longevity and peak gives him the edge of that trio, however, and it’s hard to argue with a player who was selected to the PFA Team of the Season six times over an 11-year span.

A gifted passer of the ball and with pace to play high up the pitch, Ferdinand was a complete centre-back. His partnership with Vidic might just be the best in Premier League history.

Ashley Cole

Completing an all-English defence, Ashley Cole’s spot is without even a reasonable challenger. Cole, a perennial trophy winner at Arsenal and Chelsea, was the best left-back in the world for a prolonged period.

Cole played a major part in 14 Premier League seasons across the two London clubs. He won a 2001/02 double with Arsenal, started 32 matches in the Gunners’ invincible campaign and was crucial in Chelsea’s 2009/10 double.

His seven FA Cup winners’ medals are a record, and he was heroic for Chelsea as they won the Champions League in 2012. Counting the medals doesn’t say it all about Cole though.

He was, ultimately, a superb defender, who made countless goal-line clearances throughout his long Premier League career. The 107-cap former England international developed into a solid attacking force down the left, too.

Patrick Vieira

Another member of Arsenal’s Invincibles, Patrick Vieira was competing directly with Roy Keane for this position (think we’ve seen that duel once or twice before).

The 6’4” Frenchman spent seven seasons with the Gunners, guiding them to two Doubles and that Invincibles season. An end-of-career campaign with Manchester City allowed Premier League fans to witness another season of Vieira, though he was far from his best.

Replacing Vieira has proved to be an impossible task for Arsenal as they’ve slipped away from contention, leaving them at 6/4 in 888sport’s Premier League odds to finish in the top four next season.

Frank Lampard

This slot, in the second of our midfield two, was a re-run of the Lampard-Scholes-Gerrard debate, with a bit of Yaya Toure thrown in for good measure.

Lampard was not as naturally talented as Scholes or Gerrard. His work ethic is well-documented, and he got the results he put all those hours in on the training pitch for.

A more well-rounded player than he often got credit for, Lampard at his best could impact the game in all areas of the pitch and was an underrated passer. His goals were his headline-makers, though, and no midfielder comes close to his scoring in Premier League history.

David Silva

The most recent player in this side, Manchester City’s magical Spaniard David Silva will be playing in a free role just off of Vieira and Lampard.

Since arriving at Manchester City in 2010, Silva has become an integral part of the club along with Kompany and Sergio Aguero.

A star in four Premier League titles, Silva has been unfortunate to only make it into the PFA Team of the Season twice.

Arguably the best creator in Premier League history, Manchester City wouldn’t have become the dominant force they are today without Silva.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Considering Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best footballers in the history of the game, this was a surprisingly hard pick.

Unlike the others in this side, Ronaldo’s Premier League peak was short. He won three titles on the bounce before leaving for Madrid, along with a Champions League and his first Ballon d’Or.

That peak period from 2006/07 up to his departure was so high, though, that it warrants a place in this team.

His 2007/08 year, when he scored 42 in 49 appearances and United did the league-Champions League double, might be the greatest individual campaign in the Premier League’s 20-odd seasons.

Thierry Henry

A third player from Arsenal’s Invincibles, Thierry Henry is the fifth-highest goal scorer in Premier League history and claimed four Golden Boot awards to go with six PFA Team of the Year selections and his two Premier League winners’ medals.

Electrically quick with eye-widening dribbling and ruthless finishing, Henry was unplayable at times. Capable of embarrassing you with sheer pace or a moment of skill, the Frenchman was extremely unlucky never to win the ballon d’Or.

In this team, he’ll have freedom to drift away from the middle of the pitch, pick up the ball from deep and run at the defence while his strike partner occupies the middle…

Alan Shearer

Who else? Alan Shearer’s 260 Premier League goals will take some beating.

Shearer lived the dream. He won the title with Blackburn Rovers, as part of a formidable partnership with now outspoken TV pundit Chris Sutton. Then he became most-expensive footballer in the world, joining his boyhood club Newcastle United.

He passed 20 Premier League goals seven separate seasons and scored more than 30 three times – in three consecutive campaigns for Blackburn, in fact.

Shearer might not have always been on teams competing for titles, but his goal-scoring record speaks for itself.

Finding the net 260 times across just 441 appearances, Shearer might not have the medals like some others do, but it’s hard to argue against his place in any Greatest XI.