Arsenal - Manchester City combined XI

Defence

Walker is all set to earn the first major honour of his career

A classic four-at-the-back defence formation is the pick for the defence of this lineup, and at right-back is Kyle Walker, who looks all set to earn his first major honour, having moved to Manchester City in the summer.

While he has moved on from Tottenham Hotspur and doesn’t have to think a lot about North London superiority, the prospect of beating Arsenal twice inside one week would still be something that could motivate him.

The two centre-backs also wear blue, as the pairing of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi are the names on this teamsheet. In the absence of a leader in Vincent Kompany, these two have been quite the mainstays in the lineup.

Otamendi’s goal threat also adds another dimension to his game and makes him a crucial part of this team. Laurent Koscielny could have possibly challenged for one of the centre back spots, but his poor form and lack of leadership which we’ve come to expect of him has kept him out of this lineup.

There is no question about the potential of City’s Aymeric Laporte but he also misses out as he has only played a couple of games in the Premier League.

The first Arsenal player on this teamsheet is in the form of Nacho Monreal, who takes control of the proceedings at left-back. His actual position in the Arsenal lineup has been confusing, to say the least, but the absence of a fit natural left-back, combined with Monreal’s consistency over the season helps his case in representing Arsenal in this defence.