One of the Premier League’s greatest rivalries that goes beyond geographical proportions, both Manchester United and Arsenal have served up some absolute crackers in years gone by.
The consensus amongst both sets of fans here in the Football Transfer Tavern is that fixtures between the duo have somewhat gone soft on the field in recent encounters following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and the emergence of Chelsea and Manchester City, among other factors.
Finishing in both third and fourth place respectively last season, both teams will be looking to mount more of a title challenge next term with the arrivals of Memphis Depay and Petr Cech being arguably the two biggest signings of the summer so far.
That said, our resident Gooners and Red Devils fanatics crave some of the fireworks that adorned the fixture in years gone by such as Roy Keane versus Patrick Vieira, Martin Keown vs Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ian Wright vs Peter Schmeichel among other on-field rivalries.
With Louis van Gaal keeping out of the headlines regarding biting at other managers – Sam Allardyce aside – the fixture has lost some of its buzz but they are still hotly anticipated nonetheless.
At this moment, one Gooner pipes up and claims Danny Welbeck tried his best to reinstall some hostility to the fixture with his goal that knocked United out of the FA Cup last term and to be honest, we have to agree with him on this front.
However, we’re taking this moment to piece together the best combined eleven between both Arsenal and United’s better players. Do you agree with the selections?
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Click on the image below to reveal the best Arsenal and Manchester United combined XI.
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David De Gea
We could’ve easily picked Petr Cech for the goalkeeper slot with his game-changing transfer to Arsenal possibly representing the best business any Premier League side concludes this summer.
However, we’ve gone with David De Gea simply because he is set to become a Galactico this summer and that is something that doesn’t happen everyday!
To usurp a club legend like Iker Casillas takes some doing but that is exactly what the Spanish international is set to do this summer, barring a remarkable turnaround.
Once upon a time at Old Trafford, De Gea struggled with aerial crosses but he is unrecognisable from that period now, having won Sir Matt Busby’s Player of the Year crown for the last two successive seasons.
Hector Bellerin
As far as breakthrough seasons go, Hector Bellerin’s 2014/15 campaign was simply unforgettable.
Becoming a constant fixture in Wenger’s plans towards the end of the season, Bellerin started in the FA Cup Final for Arsenal and won his first trophy as a first team professional.
Experiencing a tough debut away at Borussia Dortmund, Bellerin has since prospered following a long-term injury to Mathieu Debuchy.
Bellerin is the perfect modern breed of full back in every sense and has given Arsenal another dimension in their play.
An extremely pacey customer, Bellerin is only likely to get better next season and is part of the reason why Carl Jenkinson is set to exit his boyhood club.
Laurent Koscielny
When you’re linked with Real Madrid of all clubs, you know you must’ve been putting in some fantastic performances and that is something Laurent Koscielny has done for a long while now.
Signed by Arsene Wenger from the modest surroundings of Lorient in 2010, Koscielny has developed season in, season out and is now the most trusted defender in the eyes of Arsenal supporters.
You feel Arsenal must hold onto their French international defender at all costs this summer with the player often bringing the best out of Per Mertesacker when playing together.
Koscielny is also an occasional goalscorer with his athleticism from corner kicks.
Marcos Rojo
United fans look forward to seeing much, much more of Marcos Rojo next season after the Argentine suffered a number of injury setbacks last season.
A finalist for Argentina in the Copa America, Rojo has been impressive in the tournament and United fans are hoping he gets given a chance of playing at centre back, despite playing at left back for his country.
Part of the reasoning behind this is that United fans are hoping Luke Shaw can kick on at left back next season.
A tough character, Rojo looked a capable pro when called upon last term and he’ll only get better when playing week in, week out in England’s top flight.
Nacho Monreal
If you had said to Arsenal fans in the earlier part of the 2014/15 season that Nacho Monreal would go on to be a Gunners Player of the Year shout, they would’ve looked at you as if you were mad!
However, Monreal is now viewed as the better left back than Kieran Gibbs after putting in some consistent displays following his reinstatement at left back after having to cover for the departed Thomas Vermaelen.
The Spaniard didn’t look back after that moment and most Arsenal fans would now put him down as an immediate selection in their starting eleven.
Also looking a threat when attacking up the left wing, Monreal is a changed man who is now anything but deadwood!
Daley Blind
Daley Blind has taken to English football rather easily compared to some of the big money purchases from abroad in recent seasons.
Trusted tenfold by Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal, Blind can play at left back which has been something of a problem area for United last season but is most comfortable sat in front of the back four where he performed fantastically last season.
Undoubtedly one of the unsung heroes in this Manchester United team, Blind keeps the Red Devils ticking over and gives the team vital balance in midfield.
Santi Cazorla
Santi Cazorla has just completed his most impressive season in an Arsenal shirt, performing excellently in a new found deeper midfield role under Arsene Wenger.
More than capable of dictating the pace of a game with his passing ability, Cazorla is undoubtedly one of Arsenal’s most important cogs who is also deadly from set pieces.
His two footedness enables him to get out of tight situations as well making him something of a complete midfield player.
Cazorla’s performances were incredibly consistent last term and now 30-years-old, his experience will prove vital to younger members of the Gunners’ squad.
Aaron Ramsey
Taking up a right midfield berth in our combined XI, Arsenal fans don’t like Aaron Ramsey playing here but at the same time, this is a role he can fulfil.
Most definitely one of Arsenal’s most important players whose greatest moment was scoring the goal against Hull City in the 2013/14 FA Cup Final, Ramsey is perhaps the closest British player to emulate the likes of Steven Gerrard with his box-to-box abilities.
Publicly admitting that right midfield isn’t his strongest position, there were some games in which Ramsey looked right at home and he could well find himself in this position next season with Arsene Wenger now preferring to play Mesut Ozil in his favoured number 10 position.
Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil’s starting to get on top of his game once again, particularly in the second half of last season where the German international got back into the groove.
Arsenal’s 4-1 demolition of Liverpool at Emirates Stadium was a game in which Ozil shined with it being more than evident that he has benefited from being reinstalled in his favoured number 10 position.
Criticised previously for a lack of desire on the pitch, Ozil’s personal performances were far more consistent towards the end of the season with the former Real Madrid man producing the goods on a week to week basis.
Ozil has now enjoyed two full seasons in English football and will be better off for the experience.
Alexis Sanchez
He could’ve easily won the PFA Player of the Year crown given he was just as effective as Chelsea’s Eden Hazard but Alexis Sanchez has a special place in Arsenal fans’ hearts.
The Chilean single handedly carried Arsenal for long periods last season but you’d imagine he didn’t mind as he strikes you as a player who simply loves playing football.
Boasting leadership abilities as well as raw pace, Alexis terrorised defenders last term with his direct running abilities.
A player with everything in his locker, it was no surprise that Alexis takes up the left flank in this dream eleven.
Wayne Rooney
Although his goalscoring prowess is sometimes in question, Wayne Rooney still boasts the same passion, tenacity and determination in his game each and every season.
There’s much more to the England international’s game than goals alone with Louis van Gaal having played Rooney in a number of positions last term.
Rooney’s best position is definitely as a centre forward and this is where he is deployed in our combined eleven where he can improve his Premier League goal haul.
Also able to dictate the play in a game when dropped deeper, Rooney can pull off fantastic cross-field passes, not to mention assisting his team-mates.
