London calling! Capital stars in contention for the World Cup

Dan Kilpatrick runs the rule over England’s choices ahead of Southgate in the next year

- Dan Kilpatrick

ENGLAND confirmed their place at next winter’s World Cup with thumping wins over Albania and San Marino, and the battle to be included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Qatar is already underway.

There were six players from clubs in the capital in this summer’s 26-man European Championship squad — three from Chelsea and one each from Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham — but nine London-based players were involved this month, not including regulars Mason Mount and Declan Rice, suggesting a growing influence for clubs in the city.

Squads are expected to return to 23 players for the World Cup, which will make it incredibly tough for Southgate to whittle down the numbers given the talent at his disposal.

Standard Sport assessed which players at the five leading London clubs are currently in contention for Qatar:

ARSENAL

It is at least five years since Arsenal could boast a steady cohort of England regulars, but that may be changing, reflecting their steady improvement.

Bukayo Saka enjoyed a breakthrough summer, showing the rest of the country what Arsenal fans already knew, and this month he was joined in the squad by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Emile Smith Rowe, who both made debuts.