Man Utd vs Arsenal: Jamie Carragher picks all-time combined XI… and leaves out Sky Sports pal Gary Neville

JAMIE CARRAGHER has named his all-time Manchester United and Arsenal combined XI – and left out his Sky Sports pal Gary Neville.

In preparation for tonight’s clash, the Monday Night Football pundit revealed his dream team, leaving out a few huge names.

But the biggest surprise of all was deciding to go for Denis Irwin, traditionally a left-back, in the right-back role ahead of Neville.

On the other side of the defence, Ashley Cole gets in after his successful stint with the Gunners before joining Chelsea in 2006.

The Liverpool legend explained: “At right-back? Gary Neville. No.

“Who are the two best full-backs across the two teams? Denis Irwin may have been a left-back, but he was right-footed.

“I couldn’t leave him out. Irwin scored goals, took penalties and took free-kicks. Ashley Cole gets in at left-back.”

Elsewhere, United hero Peter Schmeichel got the nod between the sticks while it is Tony Adams and Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the back four.

The midfield four is made up of Cristiano Ronaldo on the right, Ryan Giggs in the middle with the arch-rivals Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira bossing things in the middle.

And it is an all-Arsenal strike force with Dennis Bergkamp the man selected to partner Thierry Henry.

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Carragher added: “Up front, Thierry Henry was the greatest player in Premier League history, so he’s going in.

“He was my toughest opponent and part of the best team I’ve ever played against. And I couldn’t leave Dennis Bergkamp out. That combination with Henry.

“Bergkamp took Arsenal to the next level.”

But the nature of a combined XI means a number of legends from both sides were omitted.

As well as Neville, there was no place for Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes or David Beckham – or indeed for any current player from either club.

Meanwhile, Chris Sutton compiled his own XI but this time from current players for the two teams.

And users on Twitter were quick to react and give their own thoughts.

One said: “Pires or Beckham instead of Giggs, Van Persie or Rooney could go in ahead of bergkamp too, Stam or Campbell for Adams….team could go a lot of different ways.”

Another wrote: “Great aide, although I would have included Sol Campbell, Pat Evra, Paul Scholes and Eric Cantona in there!”

A third simply added: “Deluded.”

And a final joker quipped: “Keane over Xhaka???”

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