Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford present the targets, whereas Declan Rice and Bruno Fernandes get the nod in midfield however Erik ten Hag’s new £50m man misses out… so who makes our Arsenal-Man United mixed XI?

Arsenal and Manchester United will face off in an early season humdinger on the Emirates this Sunday with each side choosing up two wins from their opening three contests within the Premier League.

Each groups have been unconvincing early on regardless of these wins, with Manchester United narrowly overcoming both Wolves and Nottingham Forest within the league while Arsenal needed to accept some extent final trip against ten-man Fulham after slender wins towards Crystal Palace and Forest. 

It ought to be an intriguing match-up so early into the brand new marketing campaign, Mikel Arteta and Erik Ten Hag nonetheless tinkering with personnel forward of the slog of fixtures to comply with.

Manchester United could have new faces within the constructing for this conflict, with Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and left-back Sergio Reguilon becoming a member of on mortgage from Fiorentina and Tottenham respectively.

Arsenal, in the meantime, had been quiet on deadline day after a busy summer season, with Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel both remaining at the club regardless of being linked with a transfer away from the Emirates.

Forward of Sunday afternoon’s kick-off, Mail Sport has named our mixed XI from the 2 big-hitters – however who has made it into our line-up?

Mikel Arteta (left) and Erik ten Hag (proper) cross path on Sunday afternoon when Arsenal host Manchester United on the Emirates 

GK – Aaron Ramsdale

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale will get the nod in aim, beating out Andre Onana who has simply signed for Manchester United and has regarded nervy early into life in England.

Preserving 37 clear sheets over his Premier League profession to this point, the 25-year-old has come into his personal since becoming a member of Arsenal from Sheffield United in the summertime of 2021.

Regardless of the Gunners signing former Brentford goalkeeper David Raya just lately so as to add reinforcements, Ramsdale’s spot within the aim at Mikel Arteta’s males appears to be like ever extra strong. Onana nonetheless has lots to show after coming in to switch David de Gea. 

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale will get the nod in aim forward of Andre Onana

CB – Lisandro Martinez

Manchester United’s bullish centre-back Lisandro Martinez occupies the primary centre-back spot of this mixed eleven, with the previous Ajax man starring in spells at Outdated Trafford.

Beating out the likes of Ben White to stake a declare in his mixed line-up, Martinez’s continued vitality and aggression in defence has received him reward in a Pink Devils shirt to this point.

His presence in Sunday’s conflict might show to be essential, with defensive companion Raphael Varane sidelined by way of damage.

Lisandro Martinez loved an excellent debut season at Outdated Trafford after becoming a member of from Ajax

CB – William Saliba

As soon as thought of a participant on the periphery on the Emirates, William Saliba is now one of many first names on the teamsheet for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.

Studying from mortgage experiences out in his native France, Saliba matured as a footballer and a defender.

He hasn’t regarded again since coming into the beginning line-up at Arsenal throughout the earlier season, even scoring 3 times general on the Gunners.

He additionally has contributed to 12 clear sheets from 30 begins within the top-flight, cementing his spot within the mixed eleven.

LB – Oleksandr Zinchenko

Former Manchester Metropolis man Zinchenko takes the left-back spot right here, the Ukrainian defender shall be eager for Arsenal to select up three factors on Sunday towards his outdated arch nemesis.

Zinchenko’s earlier pedigree on the Premier League champions rubbed off on the Gunners final season, Mikel Arteta’s males in pole place for the top-flight title earlier than normality resumed at Pep Guardiola’s Metropolis.

Arsenal’s quantity 35, though solely coming off the bench this season, continues to be key owing to Kieran Tierney’s departure to Actual Sociedad on mortgage.

RB – Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Previously Participant of the 12 months at his earlier membership in Crystal Palace, Aaron Wan-Bissaka slots in at proper again on this staff.

Profitable 74 of the 153 Premier League appearances he’s made to this point, the three video games he’s performed thus far this marketing campaign point out that he’s immensely valued by Dutch head coach Erik Ten Hag at Manchester United.

A menace going ahead too as a marauding, fast full-back choice, he’s additionally adept at doing the soiled work in defence and stifling opposition attackers making an attempt to get the higher of him.

CM – Declan Rice

Arsenal’s brand new £105 million man begins the midfield, slotting in on the centre of the park in a extra defensive position.

Beating out Manchester United’s Brazilian anchor in Casemiro, who has regarded uncovered within the first few weeks of this Premier League season, it will likely be intriguing to see if Rice can sustain his West Ham finest after relocating to North London.

Early indicators would counsel that Rice will proceed to develop from energy to energy on the Emirates, beginning all three matches for his new employers thus far and impressing.

Early indicators would counsel that Declan Rice will proceed to develop from energy to energy on the Emirates after becoming a member of Arsenal for £105m this summer season

CM – Bruno Fernandes

Including a artistic spark to enhance Rice’s extra dogged strategy centrally, Bruno Fernandes is the Red Devils pick in midfield.

Scoring 45 occasions and helping 34 targets throughout his 127-game stick with Manchester United to this point, the Portuguese attacking midfielder is at all times dependable when the clock is ticking and his staff want a late aim.

Erik Ten Hag’s males wanted some magic from Fernandes towards Nottingham Forest just lately, the 28-year-old teeing up midfield companion Casemiro to degree the scores at 2-2 earlier than a penalty late on coolly tucked away by Fernandes himself received the competition 3-2.

It is why Fernandes’ place is so safe within the Manchester United beginning line-up, three years on from his arrival to English soccer from Lisbon.

Bruno Fernandes stays one in every of United’s most vital gamers, as demonstrated when he scored the winner towards Nottingham Forest final week (above)

CM – Martin Odegaard

Odegaard provides some aptitude to this mixed eleven, Arsenal’s Norwegian maestro residing as much as his billing as the following neatest thing he garnered at Actual Madrid on the Emirates.

Scoring 15 targets final season for Mikel Arteta’s males, the 24-year-old’s knack of popping up with a elegant strike means he’s as essential because the likes of Buyako Saka and Gabriel Martinelli who play additional up the sector.

His passing vary and complicated footwork on the ball can also be spectacular, notching up 12 assists in an Arsenal shirt general.

It’s even led to Mikel Arteta giving the younger midfielder the captain’s armband, an impressed alternative by the Spanish head coach.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard scored 15 targets for the Gunners final season

RW – Bukayo Saka

The primary attacking choice on this 4-3-3 formation should be Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s golden boy continues to ship for the membership he’s been at because the age of seven.

Notching up double figures two seasons on the trot within the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns – scoring a mixed 25 targets – Saka already has two to his title from a handful of video games this season.

A kind of strikes got here on the opening day, Saka scoring an early aim of the season contender versus Nottingham Forest.

The 21-year-old hammered residence Arsenal’s second of the competition after Eddie Nketiah netted, Saliba gifting the dynamic winger the ball earlier than Saka shrugged off minimal Forest marking to hit a fierce long-range effort previous ex Gunners keeper Matt Turner.

Bukayo Saka has already two targets to his title from three Premier League video games this season.

LW – Gabriel Martinelli

Saka’s companion down the opposing wing begins on this mixed eleven, Gabriel Martinelli one other younger star at Arsenal that continues to impress.

Each Saka and Martinelli are softening the blow of Gabriel Jesus’ continued damage woes, making up for the targets misplaced to the ex-Manchester Metropolis striker’s absence.

Martinelli managed 15 targets from the wing final season for the Gunners, the 22-year-old goalless nonetheless in his first three begins of the brand new marketing campaign.

Nonetheless, he warrants a spot on this mixed line-up.

ST – Marcus Rashford

Owing to the damage points suffered by Jesus all through his time on the Emirates, Rashford slots right into a makeshift striker position on this mixed eleven – the entrance three working as a roaming trio.

Operating usually as a winger under ten Hag, his effectiveness doesn’t reduce when he begins as a extra conventional striker.

Beginning 133 video games as a centre-forward over greater than 300 video games at Outdated Trafford, he has managed 50 targets.

Due to this fact, though Arsenal and Manchester United provide Eddie Nketiah and Anthony Martial as extra outright strikers, Rashford will get the nod to finish the mixed eleven at striker.

Marcus Rashford scored 30 targets in all competitions final season