This was once the biggest fixture in English football.
Between 1997 and 2005, Manchester United and Arsenal slugged it out for titles and were the dominant forces in the Premier League. The players and the managers of the two sides didn’t like each other, and victory over the other could be season and, in the case of Ryan Giggs’ winner in the FA Cup semi-final in 1999, era-defining.
The rivalry was embodied by the battle between the midfield generals on each side.
Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira, two of the best midfielders of their generation, set the tempo for the games.
“The rivalry between ourselves and Arsenal brought energy, and passion. It was brilliant. I hated them,” Keane says in his second autobiography.
“There was an element of jealousy there, too, because I knew they were a bloody good team. But, ultimately, they made me a better player. I had to be at my best. (Emmanuel) Petit and Vieira in the middle of the park – I couldn’t have an off day against them.”
Needless to say, Theo Walcott won’t be writing something similar in 10-years’ time about his duel with Antonio Valencia.
The dynamic of the rivalry has changed significantly, and Saturday’s game at Old Trafford won’t decide the Premier League title. It’s still the biggest game of the weekend though, and for a throw-back to the good old days, the two managers really don’t like each other.
Arsene Wenger’s side go into the game in better shape – the Gunners are currently fourth, two points off Liverpool at the top of the table. While Jose Mourinho’s team are in sixth, six points off Arsenal with 18-points after 11 games.
Arsenal’s superior recent form means they edge our combined XI of the two teams.
In goal, we’ve opted for David de Gea ahead of Petr Cech. The Arsenal goalkeeper is excellent, but De Gea is world class.
Right-back was an easy choice. Antonio Valencia has performed admirably for United but he’s a converted winger. Hector Bellerin is without any doubt a specialist.
The 21-year-old is fantastic going forward, comfortable in possession and at linking-up with his teammates. He’s also a brilliant athlete and has the potential to play for Barcelona.
In central defence we’ve opted for Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny. The Arsenal duo have been solid together this season, and Mustafi looks like a clear upgrade on both Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista.
The German defender had Diego Costa, who is back to his best, in his pocket for Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Chelsea in September.
Eric Bailly is currently injured, but otherwise the United defender would’ve had a strong claim to be included.
Nacho Monreal is a more of an orthodox full-back, and has greatly improved in recent seasons, but we’ve opted for Daley Blind at left-back.
What the Dutch defender lacks in physical attributes, he more than makes up for with his crisp, accurate passing, deliveries from set-pieces and game intelligence.
Luke Shaw is still on Mourinho’s enemy list, and not in the United side, so it was difficult to make a case for his inclusion, despite arguably being the most talented of the three players.
Overrated and overpriced with a crap dance moves? Probably, but Paul Pogba is a talent and has the potential to be a world-beater.
We’re opting for Ander Herrera to play alongside Pogba in an all United-midfield. Santi Carzola is excellent, Aaron Ramsey can be brilliant and Granit Xhaka has impressed so far this season for Arsenal, but Herrera’s disciplined, intelligent performance against Liverpool alone warrants his inclusion.
He could end up being a very important player for Mourinho.
We can’t leave Mesut Ozil out of this team. The German playmaker is such a good passer he could pass Abou Diaby’s medical. He registered 16 assists last season, and has seven goals in 15 games already this season.
Alexis Sanchez has excelled up-front this season, but can be equally effective when he plays on the left. Last season, Anthony Martial would have been in contention for this position, but the French forward has had a difficult second season in England.
We can’t believe this either, but on current form Theo Walcott starts.
The Arsenal forward has eight goals in 10 games this season, and no-longer looks like a sprinter who has wandered into a football match. His form could still easily fall off a cliff this season, and there are still doubts about him as a player, but he earns his place in this team on current form.
Juan Mata is a much better player, but Walcott has to get the nod.
He scored twice on his Premier League debut against Arsenal last season, and if he would ever get a run at centre-forward he could do more damage to the Gunners on Saturday.
However, Marcus Rashford has been used as a left-winger/auxiliary full-back this season.
Here’s Rashford’s statistics from last season, when he played at centre-forward for 11 games, that arguably prove his credentials to take the striker’s position in this team.
SquawkaZlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud miss out to the 19-year-old United striker in our team, who will undoubtedly be stuck on the left for the game on Saturday.
Here’s the combined United and Arsenal XI in full, we’re sure, as always, everyone will agree and have no issue whatsoever:
