ARSENAL AND MANCHESTER UNITED COMBINED ELEVEN

MATA, DE GEA, GIBBS MISS OUT….

As the clock ticks down to probably a season defining encounter between Arsenal and Manchester United, at Socertalk we have decided to assemble a team from the two teams starting eleven based on current season form. As United have womble and fumble for most of the season its no suprising that most of their players miss out on this list including their club recoprd signing Juan Mata who hasn’t played for much of the season thanks to Mourinho who doesn’t really fancied the little spaniard.

So setting out in a 4-2-3-1 formation we look at the combined eleven from the red end of North london and the Red devils or is it Red cross now?

GOALKEEPER: SCSZESNY

Last year list would undoubtedly have De gea as the goalkeeper, but not so this season; Scszesny has been in sparkling form keeping 11 clean sheets as against De gea’s 7 and has also made 90+ top saves compared to De gea’s 62.

CENTRE BACK: MERTESACKER  AND KOSCIELNY

They might have conceded five against Liverpool at the weekend, but like Wenger said that was an accident. You don’t build trend and pattern on one result; you do that over the course of the season. And over the course of this season Mertesacker and Koscielny has been exceptional. Between them they have kept 11 clean sheets, averaged a combined 3.4 tackles per game, 4.5 interceptions and 10.5 clearances! About the best stats you can get from a CB pairing in the league. In addition this two are the most accurate passers in the league, with pass accuracy of 92.9% and 93.2% pass success rate respectively.

RIGHT BACK: BACARY SAGNA

Who else will it be? He has been one of the best right back in the leagues ever since he switched from Auxerre in France to Arsenal. Both good going forward and going back, no wonder wenger is keen to tie him down to a new deal.

LEFT BACK: PATRICE EVRA

Gibbs has been good this season, no doubt, but Evra seems to edge him out experience wise. United defence might have fumbled all season but Evra has remained consistent and solid in his performances. Except for him, United will have been far more porous than it is now. Also a threat going forward.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: MIKEL ARTETA

For our holding role in the midfield we will go for Mikel Arteta, solid in the tackles, good with the passes, he anchors the gunners midfield like no other. What if United had signed him seasons earlier? Pass success rate of 92.2% and average passes 63.5 passes per game, no one in the United midfield can stand up to him now.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: AARON RAMSEY

Box to box midfielder Aaron Ramsey is arguably the best in the league, he might be out injured but his stats are still unrivalled: 8goals, 6assists, 70.1 passes per game at 84.3% completion rate, average tackles of 3.7 per game and key passes of 1.4pg. isn’t he the complete midfielder?

ATTACKING MIDFILED RIGHT: CAZORLA

He just about beats Mata to this position, 4 goals and 3 assists beats Mata’s 5 assists all season. Cazorla has been incisive, creative and menacing lately for Arsenal. Though Mata is enjoying his game at United now, but all season its cazorla who deserves this spot.

ATTACKING MIDFIELD LEFT: ROONEY

He is the major reason why United is still up there, 9 goals and 9 assists in as many games puts rooney up there among the best in the league.

ATTACKING MIDFIELD CENTRE: OZIL

He may be criticized lately but who can better his stats: 4 goals and 8assists is a good return for a number 10. He averages 2.8 key passes per game, only Silva and suarez  does better. He is the reason that Arsenal is still challenging.

STRIKER: VAN PERSIE

What if he hasn’t been injured?  United would have probably fared better. In 13 games he has scored 10 and assisted 3. He his about the best finisher in the EPL, Giroud has a lot to learn from the flying Dutchman.

peter babs, SOCCERTALK.