Chris Waddle names his Premier League XI and backs Arsenal to win the title

Chris Waddle has named his best Premier League XI going into the new season - and, perhaps painfully for a former Tottenham man, backed Arsenal to win the league.

Speaking exclusively to The Football Historian on behalf of BetBrain, the former England, Tottenham, Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday and Marseille winger picked a side full of pace, power and players who actually try to beat a man.

Which, given Waddle’s wider views on modern football, feels very on-brand.

This is a man who doesn't get misty-eyed over someone completing 100 safe passes. He wants footballers who dribble, create, risk things and make people talk on a Monday morning.

Chris Waddle’s Premier League XI

Position	Chris Waddle’s pick
Goalkeeper	Donnarumma
Right-back	Reece James, if fit
Centre-back	William Saliba
Centre-back	Micky van de Ven
Left-back	Nico O’Reilly / Lewis Hall
Midfield	Declan Rice
Midfield	Rodri
Midfield	Morgan Rogers
Winger	Jeremy Doku
Winger	Antoine Semenyo
Striker	Erling Haaland

Waddle started with Donnarumma in goal, before admitting that right-back was one of the harder positions to pick.

“Right-back is a problem really because we don’t really see a lot of right-backs who catch the eye,” Waddle said. “But if he was fit, I’d have Reece James at right-back.”

At centre-back, he went for William Saliba and Micky van de Ven.

The left-back position came with a caveat. Waddle likes Nico O’Reilly, but still sees him as more of a converted midfielder than a natural defender.

“I’d put O’Reilly in, but I don’t think he’s a left-back,” he said. “I think he’s a midfield player. If he does play midfield, I’d probably go for Lewis Hall at Newcastle.”

In midfield, Waddle selected Declan Rice and Rodri, with Morgan Rogers ahead of them.

He said he was tossing a coin over that advanced midfield role, but settled on Rogers after what he has shown in an Aston Villa shirt.

Then came the wide players - and this is where Waddle’s footballing soul really came through.

“The two wingers would be Doku and Semenyo because they play on the front foot and they get at players,” he said.

“They do actually dribble, which is very rare now, and they do take risks, which you don’t see a lot of.”

Up front, there was no debate.

“You’ve got to have Haaland,” Waddle said.

“Whatever people say about the centre-forwards and whatever players you want to look at in the Premier League, his goal record is…”

At that point, he did not really need to finish the sentence. Haaland scores goals.

Manager: Iraola or Arteta

Waddle found the manager call harder.

He praised the man now at Liverpool after his work at Bournemouth, but also admitted that if people are judging by trophies, Mikel Arteta has to be in the conversation.

“I like the guy who’s gone to Liverpool,” Waddle said.

“He was brilliant at Bournemouth. Hopefully he’ll do a good job there because he does look a very good manager. So it would be Iraola, if things go well for him, off his Bournemouth management I’m going off.

“But if not, you’ve got to say Arteta, because people are obsessed by saying if you win trophies, you’re a great manager.

“It’ll be between them two.”

Who will be the first manager sacked?

Waddle didn't give one single name, but he did point towards the sort of clubs who could panic early.

He believes the top sides will largely look after themselves, while several teams below them could quickly find themselves in trouble.

“There’s about seven teams in the top bit and the rest could get relegated,” he said.

He mentioned the promoted sides, Forest, Palace, Newcastle, Fulham and Bournemouth as clubs where things could become difficult depending on starts, signings and expectations.

He ultimately suggested Fulham or Bournemouth could be the type of clubs to “press the panic button” if things are not going well.

“There’s a lot of teams who I look at and think they’re not really signing players, they’re not spending fortunes and they’re going to have a hard season,” he said.

“How will Bournemouth fare? How will Fulham fare this year? They haven’t really bought many players. They’ve lost their managers, both teams. These teams could go the other way quite quickly.

“I’m going to go somebody like Fulham, Bournemouth, even though they’ve got new managers. If they’re not doing well, I think they’ll press the panic button.”

Waddle backs Arsenal for the title

Asked who will win the Premier League, Waddle narrowed it down to Arsenal and Manchester City, with Chelsea named as a possible danger if they start well.

He was less convinced Liverpool were ready to mount a stronger title challenge, although he did point out that the squad could still change before the window closes.

“It’s going to be Arsenal or Man City,” Waddle said.

“Liverpool, I’m not sure they’ve got the squad yet. Listen, it’s still weeks to go. There could be three or four signings coming in which could alter that.

“But I can’t see Arsenal and City looking any weaker. They look as strong as ever.

“Chelsea have got a good opportunity if they can hit the ground running because they’re not in any European football. They’ve only got the FA Cup and League Cup, so I think Chelsea could be the danger.

“But I can’t see more than Arsenal and Man City.”

Pressed to choose between Arsenal and City, Waddle went with Arsenal.

“I hate saying it, but I think it’ll be Arsenal.”

There you have it.

Chris Waddle’s Premier League verdict: Arsenal to win the title, Chelsea as the danger, Iraola or Arteta as manager pick, and a best XI built around players who make things happen.

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