Two familiar foes battle once again in the Premier League on Sunday as Arsenal play host to Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
Both teams have encountered a mixed start to the 2023/24 season, including early injury concerns. After a strong start to the season with two wins in two games, Arsenal could only manage a 2-2 draw against Fulham. Meanwhile, Man United managed to bounce back from the 2-0 defeat to Spurs by producing an inspired comeback 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest at home last weekend.
Considering the quality of both teams and the signings they have made in the summer transfer window, Arsenal and Man United would be looking to go a step further and get closer to challenging for the Premier League title this season. That said, let us take a look at the combined XI featuring stars from both clubs.
Arsenal vs Manchester United Combined XI (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
With Aaron Ramsdale having an inconsistent start to the season and making too many errors for his and our liking, Andre Onana will get the nod in between the sticks.
Defence
Ben White will start ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the right-back position. The Englishman is a well-rounded defender and will offer solidity when compared to his Man United counterpart. Luke Shaw and Jurrien Timber are facing lengthy spells on the sidelines, and with Tyrell Malacia also out injured, Oleksandr Zinchenko picks himself at left-back.
William Saliba is Arsenal’s best defender and deserves his spot in this team. With Raphael Varane’s injury and Gabriel Magalhaes no longer the first-choice at Arsenal this season, Lisandro Martinez should partner Saliba in central defence.
Midfield
The two club captains become obvious picks, with Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard and Man United’s Bruno Fernandes leading a star-studded midfield. Both Odegaard and Fernandes are creators-in-chief for their respective clubs, but they need a solid anchorman behind them to function smoothly.
That player in this team will be Declan Rice, who has settled in quickly at Arsenal following his big-money summer switch from West Ham. The England international will hold things together in the middle of the park. While Casemiro is an elite defensive midfielder, his performances so far this season haven’t been up to the mark, thus, paving the way for Rice’s inclusion.
Attack
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka is an undisputed choice for the right-wing spot. It is a tough choice between Gabriel Martinelli and Marcus Rashford, but having netted 30 goals last season and shown glimpses of his brilliance in United’s comeback victory over Forest, Rashford makes the cut on the left flank.
Up top, both teams lack an out-and-out No.9. Summer signing Rasmus Hojlund is yet to make his debut for United, while Gabriel Jesus has made just one appearance after recovering from a knee injury. So, it will be unfair to go with either of them and leave out Eddie Nketiah, who has netted two goals in three games this season. For the No.9 role, Nketiah makes a compelling case for his inclusion.
