Manchester United and Arsenal appear to have all but secured themselves a place in the Premier League’s top four, and will surely be planning a possible assault on the title next season.
Both club’s spent big last summer, with United bringing in the likes of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao, and Arsenal adding both Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck to what was already one of the most feared attacks in the country.
Yet slow starts have ended up costing both the opportunity of a serious title challenge.
It was not so long ago that both club’s were the dominant forces in England, with the players listed in this combined all time XI producing the goods week in, week out.
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Click on Wenger and Ferguson to reveal the best all-time Manchester United and Arsenal combined XI
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Peter Schmeichel
The legendary keeper was snapped up by Fergie in what he described as the ‘bargain of the century’ in 1991 and he went onto become perhaps the greatest keeper in Premier League history.
With eight years at Old Trafford he picked up five Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a UEFA Champions League.
He ended his career at Old Trafford on the highest note, seeing the club collect their famous treble in 1999.
Gary Neville
After almost 20 years with the club, the older of the Neville brothers retired in February 2011.
He became captain after Roy Keane departed in 2005, and was a natural choice as one of the first names on the team sheet.
A great leader of men, he won everything in the game with United.
Only four players – Ryan Giggs, Sir Bobby Charlton, Bill Foulkes and Paul Scholes – have more Manchester United appearances to their name than him.
Tony Adams
As part of the meanest defence around, Adams was a massive legend at Highbury and now boasts a statue in his honour at the Emirates Stadium.
Making a total of 672 appearances for the Gunners, the England international won four league titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup.
His goal that sealed the title against Everton in 1998 will go down forever in Arsenal history, with commentator Martin Tyler saying perfectly: ‘That sums it all up.’
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand became the most expensive defender in football when he signed for Manchester United in a £30million deal from Leeds United in 2002.
He proved to be worth every penny however, acting as a leader and a mainstay in a side that won eight titles and a Champions League over the next decade.
He has looked a shadow of his former self this season at QPR, but at his peak there were few better defenders in world football than the former England captain.
Patrice Evra
Signed from Monaco in 2006, Patrice Evra would go on to become a favourite with the Manchester United supporters, whilst establishing himself as one of the world’s finest left backs in the process.
Evra was a leader of the United side that claimed five Premier League titles in eight years, as well as appearing in three Champions League finals for the club – one of which proved victorious against Chelsea in 2008.
He only left the club last summer, joining Juventus on a free transfer.
Paul Scholes
Perhaps the most naturally gifted footballer the country has ever produced.
Paul Scholes was one of the famous ‘class of 92’, and remained in the heart of a midfield that would go on to dominate English football for more almost two decades.
Scholes eventually hung up his boots with a collection of 11 Premier League medals, two Champions League titles, four FA Cups, and more than 100 Premier League goals to his name.
Patrick Vieira
Signed from AC Milan in 1996 for a fee of just £3.5 million, Patrick Vieira went on to become one of the finest Premier League midfielders of all-time.
Discipline problems aside, Vieira was a mainstay in the Arsenal midfield for almost a decade, going on to become the clubs inspirational captain, winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups in the process, whilst his clashes with our next entry have gone down in Premier League history.
Roy Keane
Of course, it is the former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.
The Irishman epitomised what it meant to play for United under Sir Alex – a desire to succeed whatever the circumstances, whilst his outstanding ability on the ball and range of passing was often overlooked.
Images of him directing the players while still covering every part of the pitch go someway to refine the generation for United.
With seven Premier League medals, four FA Cups and a European Cup among his haul at Old Trafford, the former captain goes down as a true great at Old Trafford.
Robert Pires
French winger Robert Pires seemed a bargain at the time, having been a part of the France squad that lifted the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championships in 2000, and so he proved.
Pires lit up the Premier League time and again, and slotted into Wenger’s free flowing side with ease.
The 2001/02 season was arguably his best, with the Frenchman contributing heavily to Arsenal’s second title win. He was also an integral part of the 2004 ‘Invincibles.’
Thierry Henry
What to say about arguably the greatest striker to ever to grace the Premier League that hasn’t been said already?
He’s got a statue up at the Emirates Stadium, with perhaps the biggest compliment you can pay him being that he fully deserves it.
Henry left the club as Arsenal’s highest ever goalscorer, and with two Premier League titles under his belt – one of which came during the 2003-04 ‘Invincibles’ season.
Not bad for someone who was originally signed as a winger for £12million.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo was signed for a bargain £12million in the summer of 2003, and although he showed early promise, he really peaked after the 2006 World Cup.
Many argue he is the finest player to ever play for United, with league and European success off the back of a phenomenal goalscoring prowess.
Sir Alex Ferguson still rates him as the best player he’s ever managed – is there a bigger compliment to pay him than that?
