Manchester United v Arsenal: The best of both ahead of the crunch clash

Arsene Wenger and David Moyes will face off again (Picture: Getty) With in-form Arsenal facing perhaps their most daunting trip of the season so far to Manchester United on Sunday, Metro looks at the players who have excelled for both giants this season in a combined XI.
Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal)
While David De Gea has been a much more assured presence in United’s goal than he has been in recent seasons, Szczesny’s quiet transformation into the commanding shot-stopper that Wenger believed he would always become gives him the edge.
Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)
United’s lack of recognised first-choice right-back makes the impressive Frenchman a shoe-in for this position.
Per Mertesacker (Arsenal)
The towering German has formed one of the meanest central defensive partnerships in the league with Koscielny this season, which is enough to see the ever dependable Nemanja Vidic out of the side.

Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker have been crucial this season (Picture: Getty)

Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)
Rash at times, but his pace and fearlessness has proved to be the perfect complement to Mertesacker.
Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
Marked for replacement at the start of the season by Moyes, but the veteran Frenchman has shown his class and consistency, and gets a place narrowly ahead of the ever-improving Kieran Gibbs.
Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)
Provides United’s most dangerous outlet down the right flank, and with Theo Walcott having missed a chunk of the season, the Ecuadorian nabs his place in the side.
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
Revelation of the season. Player of the season, so far. The Welshman’s all-action displays and eye for goal have been the key to the Gunners’ rise to the league summit.

Wayne Rooney has prove himself again to United fans (Picture: Getty)

Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Creativity and class rolled into one. His arrival has lifted all around him at the Emirates, and ironically the one type of player who United are desperately lacking.
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Brushed off a summer of uncertainty to bulldoze his way back to being United’s main man with some inspired performances.
Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
May have been overshadowed by Rooney so far this season, but the Dutchman’s touch of class and killer instinct still makes him of of the league’s most lethal strikers.
Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)
Really settled into his role as Arsenal’s main man up top and has rewarded Wenger’s faith in him with vital goals and superb link up play which has allowed the likes of Ramsey and Ozil to shine.