Arsenal and Manchester United meet in the Premier League this weekend for one of the biggest fixtures of the season. Both teams are coming into this match on the back of contrasting results in the mid-week Champions League fixtures. Arsenal suffered a shock 2-3 defeat against Olympiacos at home while United came from behind to defeat Wolfsburg 2-1 at Old Trafford. Although results haven’t favored the two teams in recent seasons, the rivalry between them is still one of the fiercest in English football.
Here is a combined XI of the two sides.
Goalkeeper: David De Gea
This surely is the toughest decision while selecting a combined XI of the two sides, but De Gea slightly edges it right now based purely on form. Possibly the best piece of business United did this summer for keeping De Gea away from the clutches of Real Madrid. Cech’s experience definitely counts for plenty, but we might have already seen the best of Cech while he was at Chelsea.
Defense: Matteo Darmian, Chris Smalling, Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal
Darmian has been a fabulous signing for United so far, he has really added some strength to the United defence that struggled for periods of last season. Bellerin has done well, but one feels that he needs to do it on a more consistent basis. A player who scored against United in the FA Cup last season, Nacho Monreal has shown tremendous improvement in recent months and is now surely one of the most underrated defenders in the game. Chris Smalling has become one of Manchester United’s most important players this season, improving hugely after a disappointing start to his United career. Partnering Smalling at the back is Koscielny, who is one of the top defenders in the League right now, his solidity has won him many plaudits from critics and fans alike.
Midfield: Morgan Schneiderlin, Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and Juan Mata
Schneiderlin was one of Arsenal’s target this season, but instead he choose to move to United, he would have fitted in perfectly along Cazorla and comfortably makes our combined XI, one player who deserves a mention here is Coquelin who has been superb since the start of the year. The midfield trio of Sanchez on one wing, Walcott on another and Mata down the middle is enough to give any defender in the world nightmares. These three have been in top form this season and continue to carry their respective team forward. Some notable absentees are United captain Rooney, Depay and German world cup winner Ozil.
Attack: Anthony Martial
After a flying start for United, Anthony Martial gets in ahead of Olivier Giroud and his own team-mate Wayne Rooney. His big money move from Monaco raised a lot of eyebrows, but he has quickly silenced his critics with 4 goals already in just 4 games.