The Untouchables Vs The Invincibles

By: Rob | February 17th, 2009

Speaking to the press, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has bestowed the title of Untouchables on the current Man United side, suggesting its difficult to see anyone else catching them at all, and his side are most certainly out of the race.

Wenger really is just trying to get his boys to focus on the job in hand (Catching Chelsea and getting into the Champions League, plus the upcoming game Vs Roma) but of course he managed the famous Invincibles side that didn’t loose a league game all season back in 2003/2004.

So this set my brain ticking – which is the better side? Sir Alex Ferguson’s side of Untouchables? Or Arsene Wengers dream team of Invincibles?

The more I think about it, the more I think that going forward, I favour Arsenal’s side, while staying at the back, I’d be backing Man United. It’d certainly be a monumental clash.

Arsenal’s Invincibles XI invaribly contained, Jens Lehmann in goal, Ashley Cole/Sol Campbell/Martin Keown/Lauren at the back, Pires/Ljungburg/Viera/Parlour in midfield, and Henry and Bergkamp up front.

For comparrison, the current Man United team sheet might read, Van Der Saar in goal, Evra/Vidic/Ferdinand/G-Nev in defence Giggs/Carrick/Scholes/Ronaldo and then Berbatov and Rooney up front.

Is that a fair first XI for both? I think it is. Neville doesn’t seem like first choice at RB anymore, but he’s made more appearances than Rafael or Wes Brown this season, I think. Scholes also probably isn’t first choice, but I’m begining to forget what Owen Hargreaves looks like.

So taking those two teams, assuming both were playing to a 4-4-2. In goal, You’d probably take Van Der Saar over MadJens, though despite VDS’s current clean sheet record, he looked a bit shakey at the start of the season. I think it gets him in anyway.

In defence, Ashley Cole when he looked really good and not the complacent beast he is now, verses Evra who is very much on top of his game – I think thats a coin toss. At centre back, well Keown was good, but a bit old by then, though Campbell was a rock. Vidic and Ferdinand are currently two of the very best defenders in the world – and really the reason for that clean sheet record. I’d go Rio/Vidic. Right Back, I never liked Lauren so I’d take whatever Man United had to offer, even an aged Gary Neville. So at the back, United seem to have it.

However, in midfield, Robert Pires in his peak would get in over Giggs who, ok he’s looked good this year, but he’s a long way past his prime. Ditto Scholes, leaving Freddie Ljungburg free to step in (red striped haircut, which i youthfully copied, in tact), Viera in his peak against Carrick arguably at his is another coin-toss I fear, though Ronaldo is a cert against Ray Parlour.

Up front, Berbatov hasn’t quite done it at United yet for my money, and Rooney has been good – but has he been Henry or Bergkamp good? I don’t think so. I think the two Arsenal strikers have it here – what a partnership that was.

So in conclusion, its roughly even, maybe Arsenal just about shave it. How much would you like to see the Current United take on that Arsenal though? Fantastic.