football | Wednesday, January 18, 2023 8:54 AM (Revised at: Thursday, January 19, 2023 1:16 PM)

Mikael Silvestre on Arsenal vs Manchester United: Combined XI, Midfield Battle

Devang Prasad

The Premier League is set for a marquee matchup this weekend as league leaders Arsenal take on high-flying Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils are the only ones to have handed Arsenal a loss so far in the 2022-23 Premier League and an upturn in form has seen them break into the top four.

To preview this matchup, we talked to a man who’s featured for both sides in his career, Mikael Silvestre.

In this article:

Does the Emirates Give Arsenal the Advantage?
Silvestre on the Midfield Battle
Will the Arsenal vs Man Utd Rivalry Return?
Mikael Silvestre Picks his Arsenal-Manchester United Combined XI

Mikael Silvestre ARS & ManUtd XI 16-9

Does the Emirates Give Arsenal the Advantage?

Arsenal have a great record at their home this season, winning seven of their eight Premier League games at the Emirates so far.

Silvestre believes that while Arsenal will be confident playing at the Emirates, the game could play out like the Manchester Derby at the Etihad, where Man City had more possession but United were deadly in transition.

“You know what, I think United playing away, it’s almost like playing against City at home.”

“Because we expect Arsenal to have more possession but United’s transition play and going forward is good. So, you always have a stronger feeling when you’re playing at home with your own supporters cheering for you, which is good for Arsenal but on the other side, United away from home can manoeuvre and get the result.”

Silvestre on the Midfield Battle

A lot of attention has been given to both sides’ midfields and an argument can be made to suggest that these are the two best midfields in the league this season.

Silvestre himself believes that the midfields are of the same level but at the same time, gives the nod to Man Utd’s midfield of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes due to their experience and achievements. He still concedes that it will be a great battle because the Arsenal trio of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Ødegaard is in amazing form.

“I think the midfields are at the same level.”

“Maybe, if you compare Xhaka, Partey, Ødegaard, we’re talking about those three versus Eriksen, Fernandes, Casemiro, I would rather go for the United midfield than Arsenal because of age, experience and achievements in their career.”

“But it’s a great battle because Partey, Xhaka, Ødegaard are in the form of their lives.”

“If we have those six playing in midfield, it will be a fantastic opposition.”

The Frenchman also points to midfield control being one of the key aspects in dictating how this game will pan out.

“There’s danger everywhere but most of the games when you control the midfield, when I say control it’s not necessarily on the ball but it’s also defensively and also controlling in transition, you have a good chance of winning.”

“It will be an important aspect of the game this weekend.”

Will the Arsenal vs Man Utd Rivalry Return?

Silvestre also commented on the possibility of Arsenal vs Man Utd becoming the top rivalry in the Premier League. While the five-time Premier League winner would love that rivalry to be top one in the league again, he still sees Manchester City being at the top and expects Chelsea and Liverpool to come back into the fray soon.

“It would be great. It’d be a good sign for both clubs if the rivalry is the main one in the league.”

“I believe that City will be there. It’s also a matter of time before Chelsea and Liverpool are back in top form.”

“I was at Old Trafford for the United vs Arsenal fixture and it was a very intense game so this one will be a big game for both sides.”

Mikael Silvestre Picks his Arsenal-Manchester United Combined XI

Finally, we asked Silvestre to make his Arsenal-Man Utd Combined XI and he ended up opting for five Gunners and six Red Devils. The XI was based on the form of the players in the 2022-23 season and also on the availability, due to which he opted to use Marcus Rashford as a centre-forward.

“De Gea”

“Dalot, Saliba, Varane, Zinchenko”

“Odegaard, Casemiro, Eriksen”

“Saka, Rashford, Martinelli.”