TOP of the league Arsenal visit Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United this Sunday, looking to make it SIX wins from six to start the season.
But the Red Devils themselves are on a three-game winning run of their own – after losing their first two of the campaign.
Two of England’s biggest club’s have dropped down the pecking order in recent years, with it being over two years since either of them have won a trophy.
United have fallen behind cross-town rivals Manchester City, while Chelsea have wrestled control of the capital from the Gunners.
But the good feeling has returned to the Emirates in recent weeks, as proven by the thunderous atmosphere in Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa.
There are also signs that the tide is turning at Old Trafford following morale-boosting wins against Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester.
In North London the £45million signing of Gabriel Jesus already looks a masterstroke.
His three goals and three assists in just five games earn him a placed in our combined XI of Arsenal and Manchester United stars as we look at who would make a dream team of the rivals.
The form of his skipper, Martin Odegaard, sees the Norwegian playmaker selected in the No10 role ahead of Bruno Fernandes.
Odegaard has led from the front for the Gunners this season, netting three times in five games so far.
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United do have representation on the left hand side, with Jadon Sancho currently enjoying his best spell for the club since joining for £73m from Borussia Dortmund over a year ago.
Meanwhile on the right hand side Bukayo Saka gets the nod – although United’s £85m new boy Antony may make a case later this season.
Even though he is yet to open his account for the season, 20-year-old Saka has looked dangerous and provided the assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s winning goal against Villa.
Granit Xhaka deserves a mention for his excellent start to the campaign, but this combined XI has Casemiro and Christian Eriksen partnered in central midfield.
The quality of five-times Champions League winner Casemiro cannot be ignored, while Eriksen is starting to show signs of why Ten Hag signed him this summer.
The Dane controlled the game in Thursday’s 2-1 win over Leicester.
United’s last representative in the team is at centre-back.
Despite all the criticism that has come his way for his height, Lisandro Martinez has impressed for the Red Devils and the stats show size doesn’t matter.
But Arsenal are top of the league for a reason.
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Oleksandr Zinchenko has been superb since signing, Ben White has looked like a natural after being shunted out to right-back, and the man that replaced him in William Saliba has been a revelation.
And in goal Aaron Ramsdale’s impressive distribution so far this campaign sees him edge David De Gea for a spot between the sticks.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
