Joe Cole names his Premier League team of the season so far - with FIVE Arsenal players

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Arsenal's early Premier League dominance has been reflected in pundit Joe Cole's team of the season so far. The Gunners go into the international break with a four point lead at the top, having lost just once in 11 outings, and former Chelsea star Cole has put five of his players in his selection.

Manchester City are the only other team with more than one representative, with three members of Pep Guardiola's squad making the cut. There's also one apiece for Bournemouth , Chelsea and Liverpool , emphasising the reigning champions' drop-off this term.

Arsenal have by far the best defensive record across the entire league, even after letting in two away at Sunderland on Saturday. Their record of five goals conceded is recognised by Cole, who names goalkeeper David Raya and defenders Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in his XI.

Manchester City youngster Nico O'Reilly completes the back line as he targets a senior England debut in the November break. In midfield, Declan Rice completes the Arsenal contingent and is joined by Chelsea star Moises Caicedo and Liverpool's sole representative Dominik Szoboszlai.

The two remaining City players are in the front three, with league top scorer Erling Haaland joined by winger Jeremy Doku. Rounding out the selection is Antoine Semenyo, despite the Bournemouth star missing a penalty in the weekend defeat at Aston Villa .

Several members of Arsenal's squad are away with England during the November international break. Rice has been joined by Bukayo Saka and Ebere Eze as Thomas Tuchel's side play their final competitive matches before next summer's World Cup.

Mikel Arteta's Gunners have a tough run of games once they return to action after the break. A North London derby against Tottenham awaits on November 23, followed by a Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich and a league trip to Chelsea.

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“Now we reset with the international break, get the [international] players back nice and healthy, the ones that are not healthy make sure that they get healthy, and we go again," Arteta said after the draw with Sunderland. His team bounced back from a half-time deficit to lead going into the final minutes, only for Brian Brobbey to equalise for Regis Le Bris' side.

“We’ll look back at what we’ve done, take all of the positive things that we do, the things that we have the opportunity to improve as well and start to plan what is coming because it’s going to be very demanding," Arteta added. “Our supporters have been amazing again today, thank you so much. They’ve been all over us the last few weeks, and we’re going to need them with us.”

Joe Cole was speaking exclusively to Paddy Power