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Premier League- Manchester United vs Arsenal Combined XI

By Marwan Harraz

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Arsene Wenger the Arsenal Manager clashes chats with Jose Mourinho the Manager of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on October 5, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Arsene Wenger the Arsenal Manager clashes chats with Jose Mourinho the Manager of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on October 5, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /
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Manchester United face off against Arsenal in the Premier League, with the help from Squawka ratings, who makes our combined XI?

Team Form

Manchester United have only won once in their past five Premier League games

Arsenal have won three in their past five Premier League games

Key Stats-

Goals- Ibrahimovic & Sanchez

Assists- Rooney & Sanchez

Chances Created- Pogba & Ozil

Formation- 3-5-2

Goalkeeper- Cech

In goal we have the ever present Cech who has, according to Squawka, out performed De Gea in the league. The Czech has switched seamlessly from the blue of Chelsea to the red of Arsenal and has solidified a previously worrying position for The Gunners.

De Gea on the other hand hasn’t had much to do in the league. United have only scored 16 and conceded 13 yet the Spaniard hasn’t had a key save to make yet. The goals the Red Devils have conceded have all been through a recently shaky defence rather than poor goalkeeping.

Arsenal have only conceded two less but have had much better performances due to their attack that has scored 8 goals more. United however, will be buoyed by Wenger’s strange record against Mourinho.

Defenders- Blind, Koscielny and Mustafi

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Daley Blind of Manchester United applauds the crowd after the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first leg match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on March 10, 2016 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 10 (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

In defence we have two very capable ball playing defenders in Blind and Koscielny. Mustafi can definitely also bring the ball out from the back (a vital role in a three man defence) but he’s more suited to being a no nonsense defender.

Blind has once again silenced his critics who predicted Mourinho would get rid of the versatile man. Instead, he’s kept out players such as Smalling and Shaw who performed remarkably last season.

Koscielny and Mustafa appear to be Arsenal’s best centre back pairing in quite some time. In recent times the Gunners were heavily criticised for their defending but these two have held their own against the Premier League’s best as of yet.

Midfielders- Pogba, Mata, Herrera, Ozil and Walcott

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Ander Herrera of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 10, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Tom Purslow/Man Utd via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10 (Photo by Tom Purslow/Man Utd via Getty Images) /

A midfield of Pogba, Mata and Ozil is only the stuff dreams are made of and the three playmakers had to be included in our combined XI. Herrera and Walcott both also deserve to be included on merit due to their high performances.

For us, Pogba and Herrera will be holding the fort down while the rest of the forward players get to express themselves. Pogba will naturally be allowed to roam a little with Herrera doing most of the dirty work, a role which he has become familiar with this season.

Ozil simply has to play in his preferred CAM position while Mata flanks him on the right and Walcott on the left. The speedy England winger has often asked to play as a striker but is now happy to be a winger.

If he plays on the left he gets the best of both worlds, capable of cutting in on his preferred right foot and scoring the odd goal for the team. This should all create fluid movement with all the players interchanging and capable of playing in each others positions.

Forwards- Ibrahimovic and Sanchez

SWANSEA, WALES - NOVEMBER 06: : Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Phil Jones (l) during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Manchester United at Liberty Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
SWANSEA, WALES – NOVEMBER 06: (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

Up front who else could we play instead of this frightening pair? Sanchez has definitely performed more consistently than Ibrahimovic but the big Swede has showed signs of a return to form. His brace against Swansea might just give him the confidence to press on and catch up with the league’s top scorers.

Sanchez on the other hand, isn’t unfamiliar with the striker position having played there for his former clubs. Now he’s doing it for Arsenal and has Giroud regularly sitting on the bench. This pairing is perfect for many reasons.

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For one, Ibrahimovic likes to drop deep and collect the ball, spraying passes to runners who get beyond him. Sanchez doesn’t like to do this too often, leaving him isolated up front but with Zlatan there to do the dirty work, the Chilean can just focus on getting in behind the opponents defence, confidently knowing that a remarkable midfield and striker are capable of finding him.

Agree with our choices? Who do you think should play in an Arsenal and Manchester United combined XI? Let us know in the comments section below.

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