Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has drafted his combined Chelsea and Arsenal XI ahead of their Super Sunday clash.
Over the years, the two teams have produced some of the greatest sides that the Premier League has ever seen, and combining the two has been a struggle with so many class players to choose from.
But former Gunner turned pundit Paul Merson was tasked with doing just that, although tasked is probably not the right way to describe it, with the legend picking almost an entire Chelsea XI – finding room for only wantaway Alexis Sanchez in the line up!
Paul Merson’s combined Chelsea and Arsenal XI
Courtois
Rudiger – Cahill – Luiz
Azpilicueta – Kante – Fabregas – Alonso
Hazard – Morata – Sanchez
Above is Merson’s combined team, featuring 10 Chelsea players and just a single Arsenal star. It looks clear that the Sky Sports pundit has seen enough of Arsenal so far this season to assume Chelsea will run riot over their London rivals. Anyone who fancies Chelsea’s chances of beating Arsenal this weekend will be reassured by Merson’s favoured XI, and perhaps the Blues chances of winning the league title again this season will be taken more seriously if they beat the Gunners – it might be worth checking out the latest odds, use this Bet365 bonus code for UK users.
It can’t have been easy for the former Gunner to choose that team, and here’s his justification via Sky Sports News.
“I honesty can’t make a case for anyone other than Alexis Sanchez, the clubs are chalk and cheese and it’s sad. This is Arsenal versus Chelsea and I can only find one Arsenal player. Where has it all gone wrong?”
“Ten years ago I’d be fighting to get a Chelsea player in. I’m not being harsh. People will say I’m taking the mickey but I’d like to sit down with an Arsenal fan and discuss who would really get in.”
“I’m being kind with Sanchez if anything. If you’re a Chelsea fan you’re thinking that’s harsh on Pedro and Willian on current form.”
“I know Petr Cech played well against Liverpool but he’s not the goalkeeper he used to be, so I have to go with Thibaut Courtois.”
“They both play three at the back but Arsenal’s three are awful. Nacho Monreal wouldn’t get in if I was picking a combined XI against a bottom-half team. That’s not his fault, he’s being played out of position.”
“Should Laurent Koscielny be in there? How good has he been over the last few years? Per Mertesacker is still Arsenal’s best defender.”
“Then I’ve got Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso on the flanks and even if you suggested Antonio Rudiger has not proved himself then I’d have Azpilicueta at centre-back and Victor Moses on the right.”
“The holding two are definitely going to be N’Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas. Nobody can tell me Aaron Ramsey, Granit Xhaka or Mohamed Elneny are better.”
“Then I’d have Sanchez, Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata as my attacking three. Alexandre Lacazette has done OK but he’s not a better finisher than Morata.”
“I’ve picked a 3-4-2-1 as that’s what both sides have been playing so I don’t know if Mesut Ozil would fit into that system.”
“Ozil certainly doesn’t get in ahead of Hazard and I don’t think many Arsenal fans would put him in ahead of Sanchez. I’ve picked a team to win a football match, not a fantasy side based on technical ability.”