Arguably the standout fixture in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup will take place at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night as Arsenal welcome Manchester City.
The Gunners have not won in the Premier League since a 1-0 victory at Manchester United on November 1, suffering five defeats in their last seven to occupy 15th position in the table.
The League Cup could provide a welcome distraction for the capital giants, but they will be the underdogs to overcome a City side that have won the competition in each of the last three years.
Pep Guardiola's side will enter the clash off the back of a 1-0 win over Southampton in the Premier League, which moved them into sixth position in the table.
Arsenal, who lost 2-1 at Everton on Saturday, beat the Citizens in the semi-finals of last season's FA Cup, but the Manchester giants have already overcome the Gunners in the league this term, recording a 1-0 victory in the middle of October.
Some of the Premier League's biggest talents will be on display in this game and with that in mind, Sports Mole picks a combined XI from both squads, using only players available for the contest.
Zack Steffen could get the nod between the sticks for City in this game, having played both of his team's EFL Cup matches this season, but for the purposes of this XI, we have selected the strongest available goalkeeper, and it is therefore not a difficult decision to pick Ederson. The Brazil international has not always been at his best this term but is comfortably the best stopper in both squads and gets the nod.
A back three includes two City players and one from Arsenal, with the revitalised John Stones selected alongside Ruben Dias, who has been excellent since arriving over the summer. At one stage, it appeared that Stones's career at the Etihad Stadium was over, but the England international, who is currently being preferred to Aymeric Laporte, has been excellent in recent weeks and deserves his spot in the side.
Kieran Tierney has arguably been Arsenal's best player this season, meanwhile, and the Scotland international was not a difficult pick in this XI. The 23-year-old has already made 18 appearances in all competitions during the 2020-21 campaign and has been impressive as a central defender.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles was one of Arsenal's better performers in the team's defeat at Everton, but City's Kyle Walker is selected as the right-sided wing-back. Walker, who has scored once and provided one assist in 18 appearances at club level this term, is still guilty of the odd lapse in concentration, but the 30-year-old's pace and power makes him the ideal choice as a wing-back.
The final Arsenal player in this particular XI is Bukayo Saka, who is already one of his side's most important players at the age of 19. The England international has contributed one goal and two assists in 17 appearances at club level this term and has performed impressively as both a left-back and left midfielder.
Thomas Partey would have been included in this side had he been available, but the Ghana international is still injured, meaning that City pair Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are selected in the middle of the park. Gundogan is needed for balance and for his energy in a central position, while it was impossible to leave out De Bruyne, who has scored twice and provided 11 assists in 16 appearances for Guardiola's side this season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang's absence through injury means that it is an all-City front three, with Raheem Sterling lining up on the left and Ferran Torres on the right. Sterling has scored seven times and provided seven assists in 20 appearances this season and has netted twice in two EFL Cup outings. Torres, meanwhile, is given the nod over the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva, with the Spaniard scoring six times in 16 appearances for the Citizens during an impressive first half to the season.
Sergio Aguero has only made six appearances this season due to a injury, scoring twice, but the Argentina international is still the most talented forward in both squads by some distance. There is certainly a chance that City's all-time leading goalscorer could leave on a free transfer next summer, but he could still have a huge say in his side's search for more silverware this season.
Matt Law
