Manchester United vs Arsenal combined XI: Mata, Ozil, Rashford and Pogba all available… but do they make the team?
Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger renew their rivalry, but who's the pick of the bunch from their expensively-assembled squads?
JOSE MOURINHO and Arsene Wenger renew their fierce rivalry in the lunchtime kick-off at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Sparks will fly between them - but what about their men on the pitch?
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With a load of the world's top talent on show, it's the ultimate pub debate who makes the combined XI.
Here is the strongest side based on form so far this season and current fitness.
Goalkeeper
David De Gea
Old Trafford shot-stopper has grown into one of the world's best.
The Spaniard has shed his indecisiveness of his early years and now usurps even the legendary Petr Cech.
Defence
Matteo Darmian
It looks like he is on his way out of the club but with Hector Bellerin injured for Arsenal and Carl Jenkinson in his place, Darmian is the obvious choice.
Antonio Valencia is still unlikely to recover from a broken arm in time, meaning the Italian gets the nod.
Shkodran Mustafi
What a shrewd signing the £35million summer signing has turned out to be.
Mustafi has adapted to the physical nature of the Premier League without a hitch and will not be out of his depth against United's dear front line.
Laurent Koscielny
You know you're a special Gunners player when Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris says you're one of the world's best.
On top of conceding the fourth fewest goals in the Prem so far this season, the Frenchman has bagged two of his own.
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Nacho Monreal
With Luke Shaw out of favour with Mourinho and an injury doubt anyway, the nod has to go to the Spaniard.
He scored his first international goal in his country's 4-0 rout of Macedonia last Saturday and currently has the second-most Premier League interceptions since 2014/15 with 229.
Midfield
Granit Xhaka
Aaron Ramsey is back and fit but it is testament to Xhaka's brilliance since joining Arsenal that the Welshman does not deserve to be picked ahead of him.
His first Gunners goal was an unstoppable rocket and he should be rewarded by Wenger by starting against United.
Paul Pogba
Just when the cacophony of criticism hit deafening levels, the world's most expensive player silenced everyone with a screamer against Swansea.
Yes, he is taking slightly longer than people expected to settle.
But another goal for France during the break shows he could be hitting his stride.
Juan Mata
No one could have feared Mourinho's arrival more.
But, since being offloaded since their earlier time at Chelsea, the Spaniard has forced himself into the Portuguese's starting XI. That's good enough for us.
Mesut Ozil
After accusations of laziness and a sense he was struggling to find his feet, the World Cup winner has turned on the style.
His stunning solo effort against Ludogorets will go down as one of the goals of the year and his trickery around the box is mesmerising.
Theo Walcott
In arguably the most contested area of the pitch, the nod has to go to in-form Walcott.
He has scored twice in two games this season, has eight in all competitions and has shown a maturity that edges out Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
Striker
Alexis Sanchez
If - and it is a big if - he is fit to face United, then Alexis must lead the line for the Gunners.
Wenger will be desperate for the Chilean to recover from the hamstring strain he suffered in training with the national side.
If he does so, then expect him to seriously trouble a United defence possibly without Eric Bailly, Antonio Valencia and Chris Smalling.
