At club level, Arsenal’s players have been a cut above any of their Premier League rivals so far this season.
Under the astute management of Mikel Arteta, the Gunners went into the mid-season break top of the table, five points ahead of their nearest competitors Manchester City. But that domestic superiority hasn’t exactly translated into a World Cup littered with Arsenal players starring.
In contrast, Manchester United, who are 11 points off the top and in a period of transition, have a whole host of stars playing key roles. As the tournament pauses before the last eight gets underway, Mirror Football takes a look at the differing fortunes of the players from the two Premier League foes.
