Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Manchester United vs Arsenal: Who gets into our combined XI?

By James Cormack

FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1418428382, 1196044327 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United (L) and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal. Manchester United and arsenal meet in a Premier League match on September 4,2022 at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. ***LEFT IMAGE*** SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Manchester United at Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1418428382, 1196044327 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United (L) and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal. Manchester United and arsenal meet in a Premier League match on September 4,2022 at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. ***LEFT IMAGE*** SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Manchester United at Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next

Midfielders

Casemiro is yet to make a start for United but he still makes our XI. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
Casemiro is yet to make a start for United but he still makes our XI. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images) /

Casemiro (CM) – No, I don’t care that he’s yet to make a start for the Red Devils. Casemiro gets into this side off reputation alone. He’s a five-time Champions League winner and some regard him as the best defensive midfielder in the world. Of course, he makes this XI.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – Christian Eriksen made a big push to get into the side and his performance against Leicester on Thursday night certainly helped his cause. However, Xhaka’s form is too scintillating to ignore. I, for one, must admit that I doubted the Swiss international’s capacity to effectively transition into a more advanced midfield role and he’s made me look like a fool! Xhaka’s one of the first names on Arteta’s team sheet, with his influence in the Arsenal dressing room huge.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – The Arsenal skipper is playing out of his skin right now. Odegaard is the creative hub of this Gunners side and he recently produced his most impressive display for the club against Fulham last weekend. He’s grabbed his new leadership role with both hands and is leading by example. Bruno Fernandes is a close contender, but his form over the past 12 or so months has been inconsistent at best.

Continued on the next slide…