Arsenal vs. Manchester United: Combined XI | Premier League 2020-21

Central Defence: Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal)

Harry Maguire's form has improved dramatically over the last few weeks

Deciding upon a defensive partnership for a combined XI of Manchester United and Arsenal players is tricky. That’s partly due to the fact that neither team are overly sound in defence, and neither Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mikel Arteta seem to have settled on a first-choice partnership this season.

However, perhaps the best partnership across the two sides would come from United’s Harry Maguire and Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes.

The world’s most expensive defender after United parted with £80m for his services, Maguire started the current campaign in diabolical fashion, but has improved his performances greatly in recent weeks.

Maguire has scored two goals this season, both powerful headers from set-pieces. He also averages 4.3 aerial wins per game, and scores highly when it comes to passing, with an 86.4% success rate, as well as interceptions and clearances per game.

The England international lacks pace and athleticism, but that’d be provided in this team by Brazil’s Gabriel. Signed by Arsenal in the summer of 2020, he’s made an excellent start to his Gunners career and also has two goals to his name this season.

Like Maguire, Gabriel scores highly in all defensive statistics, from tackles and interceptions to clearances and blocks. And what’s more, he appears to have the pace that would allow him to cover for Maguire at points.

Essentially, these two would probably prove to be an excellent partnership.

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Left-Back: Kieran Tierney (Arsenal)

Kieran Tierney edges out Luke Shaw at left-back despite the England man's improved form

Left-back is perhaps the tightest spot to choose in this Manchester United and Arsenal combined XI.

While United’s Alex Telles may prove to be the best of the bunch eventually, and Arsenal’s outstanding Bukayo Saka has played in the position from time to time, it comes down to a straight shootout between United’s Luke Shaw and Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney.

Both men have been impressive as of late, although it’s worth noting that Tierney has been consistently excellent since the beginning of 2020-21 while Shaw has only just begun to recapture his best form.

Shaw and Tierney both have one assist to their name this season, with Arsenal’s Scotland international also having one goal. And the statistics show that it’s a close call to be made between the two in all areas.

However, with this combined side using a more defensive-leaning right-back in the form of Wan-Bissaka, it’d probably be smart to put in a more offensive left-back. So in that case, Tierney – who has better crossing ability and possesses more pace – is probably the better bet.