A COMBINED team of Manchester City and Arsenal based on which players cost more to sign shows a chasm between the title contenders.
The two Premier League toppers face off at the Emirates on Wednesday evening in a game that could be massive in terms of the title race.
GettyOnly Oleksandr Zinchenko and Thomas Partey would make it in from Arsenal[/caption]
Getty£100m Jack Grealish is the most expensive player in the team[/caption]
Both sides are likely to make minimal changes to their starting XIs after the weekend’s matches.
Pep Guardiola will be happy with his team following the 3-1 win over Aston Villa.
The boss will also be boosted as Erling Haaland returned to training ahead of the match against Arsenal after he picked up a knock against the Villans.
Mikel Arteta could swap out the struggling Gabriel Martinelli for Leandro Trossard after he netted his first goal for the club in the 1-1 draw against Brentford.
If a combined team were to be assembled with only the most expensive player in each position, the side would cost £611.3million.
The most expensive player on the pitch is likely to be Jack Grealish who set the Citizens back £100m when they signed him from Villa.
In fact, in a side made up of both sides based on transfer fees, there would only be two Arsenal players involved.
Oleksandr Zincenko would take up the left-back spot after he joined the Gunners from City last summer for £32m.
A team made up from Arsenal and Man City’s most expensive players would cost £611.3million
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And Thomas Partey would partner City’s Rodri in holding midfielder as Arsenal paid £45m for him.
The rest of the team would be made up of players from the Etihad Stadium outfit.
Ederson at £34.9m was slightly more expensive than Arsenal star Aaron Ramsdale who cost £30m when he joined from Sheffield United.
The defence would see Aymeric Laporte (£57m), Ruben Dias (£64.5m) and Kyle Walker (£50m) join Zinchenko.
Ben White could have had a spot in the team as he cost £50m, but Walker was chosen as his transfer happened first.
The attack is made up entirely of players from City with Riyad Mahrez (£60m), Kevin De Bruyne (£54m), Jack Grealish (£100m) and Erling Haaland (£51.4m) all more expensive than Arsenal’s options.
Arsenal star boy Bukayo Saka is not under consideration as the club did not pay a fee for their academy player.
The combined team shows a major difference between the two club’s philosophies as City have spent much more to assemble their title-contending team – whereas Arsenal – while spending big – have also brought through some kids and uncovered cheaper gems.