Former Arsenal man Paul Merson has made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the way the Gunners have been performing in recent times, but ahead of Sunday's clash between Wenger's men and Chelsea he has hammered home just how much of gulf in class there is between the two squads.
Combined XI's are, by their very nature, meant to cause debate but despite looking like Merson is taking a dig at his former club, there can be little argument at this moment in time that Chelsea would absolutely dominate any fictional combined XI were it to play in some sort of fictional combined XI league.
Merson named 10 Chelsea players and Alexis Sanchez in his team, and was adamant that he would argue it's validity against any Arsenal fan who disagreed.
As harsh as it looks... Who could you really change?
Perhaps Koscielny over Rudiger, but the form of the Frenchman doesn't exactly make for a convincing argument as he returned from injury for Arsenal's debacle at Anfield.
Should Mesut Ozil feel aggrieved? Not according to Merson.
I honesty can't make a case for anyone other than Alexis Sanchez, the clubs are chalk and cheese and it's sad. This is Arsenal versus Chelsea and I can only find one Arsenal player. Where has it all gone wrong?
Ten years ago I'd be fighting to get a Chelsea player in. I'm not being harsh. People will say I'm taking the mickey but I'd like to sit down with an Arsenal fan and discuss who would really get in.
I'm being kind with Sanchez if anything. If you're a Chelsea fan you're thinking that's harsh on Pedro and Willian on current form.
Sanchez would walk into the team regardless, but it's a fair XI overall.
Also enjoyable was the Sky Sports pundit's reason for leaving Ozil out, insisting that he had picked this team to win a football match.
Ozil certainly doesn't get in ahead of Hazard and I don't think many Arsenal fans would put him in ahead of Sanchez. I've picked a team to win a football match, not a fantasy side based on technical ability.
Just a shame that match isn't happening, an odd thing to say after picking what is literally a fantasy side where technical ability is one of the main factors behind who gets the nod.
You can read Merson's reasoning in full over on Sky Sports.
