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With a little over quarter of the season done, Arsenal find themselves at the top of the Premier League table with a healthy five point lead while Manchester United are in eighth position, 8 points behind the Gunners. While Arsene Wenger’s side has picked up where they left off last season, the Red Devils are beginning to play with a new identity under new manager David Moyes.
Both sides have seen some commendable performances so far this season from a number of players. So what if one was to pick players from both teams to form a combined XI? We’ve done precisely that and picked 11 players and 7 substitutes based on current form and availability.
This is how the team would look in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Goalkeeper
Wojciech Szczesny
The Polish shot stopper has faced an incredible 126 shots on goal to De Gea’s 117. He has kept one more clean sheet than the Spanish keeper. Arsenal have let in only 9 goals to Manchester United’s 13, but Szczesny has had to deal with 3 penalties to De Gea’s 0. And both goalkeepers have played every minute in all 10 Premier League games so far. This was a tough choice to make and we let the stats pick the player, and Szczesny makes it to the starting line-up.
Defenders
Bacary Sagna – Johnny Evans – Laurent Koscielny – Patrice Evra
Three French defenders make it to the starting line-up. With United not sticking to one player to play as Right Back, Sagna was the easiest choice to make. He has been a consistent threat on the right flank in attack and has kept many opposition left wingers quiet over the past ten games.
A Centre Back partnership of Johnny Evans and Laurent Koscielny gives the back line a look of solidity. Both defenders have impressed this season and benched their senior counterparts like Rio Ferdinand and Thomas Vermaelen.
Patrice Evra makes it into the line-up instead of Kieran Gibbs mainly for his all round contribution. He has already notched two assists in the League.
Central Midfield
Mikel Arteta – Aaron Ramsey
No doubts about who makes it into the team here. Mikel Arteta has continued to be the pass master for a third season in a row for the Gunners. He has a near 94% pass success rate in the League. He is the key cog in the Arsenal midfield and the main link between defence and attack. His set piece delivery and penalty taking skills are an added bonus.
With 6 goals and 4 assists in the League, Aaron Ramsey could make it to any team in Europe with the blistering form he is in. He has literally played everywhere across the Arsenal midfield and defences have found it hard to mark the Welshman due to his unorthodox positioning. He has timed his runs into the box and improved immensely on his passing and composure on the ball. And the League Player of the Month award does not lie.
Attacking Midfield
Wayne Rooney – Mesut Ozil – Adnan Januzaj
Januzaj first impressed for Manchester United in pre-season and later when he scored 2 goals to help Man United beat Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light. Since then, he has been the preferred player on the flank to Ashley Young who is seeing lesser minutes for United. The midfielder’s passing range and touch is phenomenal for an 18-year-old and he has been a constant threat for United on the flank.
Ozil became Arsenal’s record signing after a £42.4m transfer from Real Madrid. And he made an immediate impact in the League. He needed just eleven minutes to get his first assist and even made three more in the game against Stoke City. A hard working shift saw him get a brace against Norwich. The midfielder has really improved the quality and morale of this Arsenal side ever since his arrival.
In spite of a verbal transfer request to move away from Old Trafford, Rooney has put his head down and gone about his business, discarding his history with Moyes. In nine games, he has scored 5 goals and made 3 assists. He has been vital to Manchester United creating and scoring goals this season and recently took his tally of Manchester United goals past the 200 mark.
Striker
This was the toughest choice to make, to pick the player who would spearhead the attack. And Robin van Persie misses out only because Giroud has been involved in more goals. Robin van Persie has 6 goals and 2 assists while Giroud has 5 goals and 4 assists! Giroud is the more powerful striker up front and wins more than half the aerial duels he contests. His one touch passing has improved and brings midfielders into play.
This is only his second season in the Premier League and he already looks good to take Arsenal far in the title race. Robin van Persie, on the other hand, is world class but has not lived up to expectations this season. Yet.
Substitutes
David De Gea, Per Mertesacker, Phil Jones, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Robin van Persie, Javier Hernandez (unlucky to make the bench here too).
The combined XI featuring players from both Arsenal and Manchester United in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
