Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has named his combined eleven featuring players from the north London side and Liverpool, with only two members of Jurgen Klopp's squad making the cut.
The Gunners travel to Merseyside this weekend looking to extend their advantage over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and lead Liverpool by a staggering 29 points in the division standings.
Two clubs whose seasons have headed in complete opposite directions, Mikel Arteta has found a way to get the best out of his players while Klopp likely cannot believe the drop-off in quality from his most trusted lieutenants.
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Reflecting the current chasm between the sides, Parlour found space for only Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah when asked to name a starting lineup comprised of Arsenal and Liverpool stars based on current form and availability.
“Looking at current form, it has to be all Arsenal, except for Virgil van Dijk. I know he isn’t playing great, but you would get him in alongside Gabriel, no disrespect to Rob Holding, and with William Saliba currently out injured," the 50-year-old told NetBet.
“You would also still have to find a spot for Mohamed Salah, but you can’t leave Bukayo Saka out and Gabriel Martinelli is playing well so it is an awkward one. But with Gabriel Jesus having recently come back from injury, I would put Salah up front over the Brazilian. You’ve got to get Salah in there somehow – he could play as a false number nine up front with Saka and Martinelli on the wing – as Jesus has only just come back.
“Liverpool don’t get many spaces. You’ve got Aaron Ramsdale in goal, I am happy with Ben White at right-back, he’s a good defender and has done so well this season, and at left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko has been brilliant. I love Andy Robertson, he’s a good player, but Zinchenko has been one of Arsenal’s best players in recent weeks. I’d certainly rather have White and Zinchenko over Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson
“And in midfield, Thomas Partey has been excellent, and you can’t leave Martin Odegaard out the way he’s been playing. Nobody from Liverpool’s midfield gets in. Partey, Granit Xhaka and Odegaard, as a three, they work so well together and I can’t see how the likes of Jordan Henderson or Fabinho get in the way they are playing.”
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