Just a couple of q’s I’d like you to a;

You mentioned that your combined XI would be 6-5 in favour of Arsenal.

The players in that XI from Arsenal from what you said would be Sagna, Vermaelen, Fabregas, Song, Arshavin and van Persie.

Despite the cordial banter I think a bit of perspective is needed.

Sagna had a decent debut season and has been decidedly average since. Vermaelen has admittedly somewhat impressed in just over half a season but would you put him in ahead of Ferdinand or Vidic? Really? Arsenal have continued to leak goals at a steady pace and have looked poor defensively in the big games. I would have four United centre halves in front of him, Rio, Brown, Vidic and Evans. Maybe a slight bias but I’d take a years wait on this – I can’t see how, in your right mind, you could choose any Arsenal central defender over Rio or Vida – and Evans was not only exceptional last season but he has been good when fit this season and out of he and Vermaelen on Sunday; despite the goal, it was clear who was the better defender. I’m not using this is a direct comparison but Bruce used to score loads of goals; but he could defend and the proof was in the trophy count and the defensive record. Has Vermaelen really made a noticeable impact to your back line? Not when it really matters, so far. In my opinion. I notice O’Shea hasn’t been mentioned. Scoff. He’s not the most fashionable. Consider though in the cold light of day; who has been the better right back in the last 3 years between O’Shea, Brown and Sagna. It’s a toss-up between O’Shea and Brown, O’Shea performing in a record breaking and title winning team, Brown being the regular in a Champions League winning side, one thing’s for certain, Sagna’s a distinct third.

Onto midfield – Song, again, (like Diaby) is having a decent season, but if we’re talking a combined team we can’t really base the selection on 5 months of performances against smaller (with all respect) teams. The Fabregas conundrum is one that does interest me. A player who excels against smaller teams in a 3 man midfield but who 9 times out of 10 goes missing in a 2 man. A player lauded as one of the best midfielders in the world but who hasn’t really dominated an important game since Arsenal made the CL Final almost 4 years ago. I’m not doubting his obvious talent; maybe it’s a management thing, but in recent head-to-heads in that 4 year spell I can recall O’Shea, Anderson, Fletcher and Carrick now all doing an effective job on him. That’s not to say I don’t rate him and wouldn’t pick him in such a side. I would; but then again it would depend on the criteria we’re selecting on. In a strongest 4-3-3 yes I would just edging out Hargreaves.

Onto the forwards; Arshavin? Really? Berbatov takes a battering but he has at least been as consistent; one could argue that Berbatov’s trophy count makes the difference. Aside from two cracking games at Anfield (Well, the second game was just the goal) I didn’t think he’d done anything at all in the English game. Before this season everyone was throwing their hat on him for player of the season. How woefully misguided. However; my preferred choice of formation with the combined side would be a 4-3-3 (that being one that gets the best of each player and team). Arshavin would be my choice because Berbatov doesn’t fit; but I don’t know if I would pick him in front of Nani – not just based on the last three games, but the potential and his performances in 07/08, fortunately Ryan Giggs negates that choice.

And van Persie? The only reason I could assume that you omitted Ferdinand was due to injury and on that count I would presume you would discount van Persie – however I’ll just think for the sake of argument that you’re doing it based on ability. I couldn’t really argue too much with his selection because I think he’s deadly but in terms of a combined XI and thinking really Rooney has to play you would think about the combination (I assume we’d be thinking about a practical side that would be effective).

With this in mind this would be my choice :

4-3-3

van der Sar

O’Shea – Ferdinand- Vidic – Evra

Fletcher
Fabregas – Anderson

Valencia – Rooney – Giggs

Subs : Kuszczak, Evans, Brown, Clichy, Song, Scholes, van Persie

Benefits are the experienced and winning back line, a midfield with energy in Fletcher and Anderson and intelligence through Fabregas and Giggs. Exploit the pace of Valencia; the football between Fabregas/Rooney/Giggs would be worth the entrance fee, Fabregas playing as the free midfielder would give Rooney support too.

So it’s only one player from Arsenal- controversial choice I suppose, the selection of Anderson another, but in terms of trophy achievement and big game performance I can’t really see how you could argue with it. And, it shows how much we would benefit from a Scholes in his pomp – I’m pretty sure the way Fergie wanted us to play in 2002 was something like this.

There are a couple of issues in there I’m sure you’ll like to disagree with; just one other, who in your mind is Arsenal’s best ever player, having undoubtedbly been priviledged to see the very best selection?

Here’s hoping Arsenal have a blinder against Chelsea and we knock the hell out of Portsmouth.

In reality we have never been on the race. We had a good run and may still have one but most of us know in our hearts that we are not better than you or Chelsea, the games against both sides have proved that. Remember at the beginning of the season everyone said we were gonna fall out of the top four? Now it’s that our title challenge is over when no one said we would even be close. I think we’re the 3rd best team in the country and that’s where we will probably finish.

Idiot.