sport news De Bruyne, Odegaard, Mahrez: Who makes Sportsmail's combined Arsenal-Manchester ... trends now
By late evening on February 15, the respective seasons of Arsenal and Manchester City could look very different.
Of course, both will be hoping to go all the way in the Europa League and Champions League respectively, with City in particular desperate to break their duck when it comes to the top continental prize.
But with both already out of the League Cup, their two meetings in four games - in the FA Cup on Friday night before their Premier League clash on February 15 - are likely to be crucial in their battle for domestic supremacy.
Mikel Arteta, former City assistant under current head coach Pep Guardiola, is going head-to-head with his former boss in the battle for glory, with both sides arguably the best two teams in England at the moment.
With that in mind, Sportsmail has named a combined XI - but who makes it into our line-up?
By February 15, the seasons of Arsenal and Manchester City could look very different
Mikel Arteta (left) and Pep Guardiola (right) are going head-to-head for supremacy
Goalkeeper - Ederson (Man City)
In net, it's one of the easier choices in the XI.
Aaron Ramsdale is a brilliant young player and has been largely excellent this season, but while he may become world-class in future, Ederson is already at that level.
Both have made errors in recent weeks, but both are in the real upper echelon of Premier League stoppers. It's Ederson for me.
Right back - Kyle Walker (Man City)
Ben White has been a mainstay in the Arsenal side for almost the entire season, shifting across from centre back to an unfamiliar full back position and linking up very nicely with Bukayo Saka down the right-hand side.
While right back at City has been less of a lock. Walker's played there, Joao Cancelo has played there, and recently local tyro Rico Lewis has impressed there, too. Walker's form, in and out of the side amid injury, hasn't been tip-top.
But his class is as permanent as it is obvious. When fully fit he will likely return to the first team - and White, who may perhaps have a knock, was booked and then taken off at half-time after a tricky first period against Manchester United.
Centre back - William Saliba (Arsenal)
It was Saliba's return this summer, after three successive loans in France, that allowed Arteta to move White to right back, given he felt he finally had a player capable of stepping in at centre back.
And the 21-year-old star has managed it superbly. He's played all but 15 minutes of the 1,710 possible in the Premier League so far this season and although not without mistakes, has impressed with his composure, positioning and ball playing ability.
Not bad for his first year in English football, eh?
Centre back - Gabriel (Arsenal)
One of just six outfield players to play every league minute available this campaign (along with Marc Guehi, Ruben Neves, James Ward-Prowse, Declan Rice, Max Kilman and James Tarkowski), Gabriel has turned up time and time again.
At just 25, he is a real leader of the defence, guiding Saliba through tough moments at points, in what has become a stern partnership at the back and even popping up with a couple of goals too.
City's John Stones, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake are all extremely talented, of course. But the Gunners duo make it in together.
