{"id":1439979,"date":"2026-03-20T17:46:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T17:46:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1439979"},"modified":"2026-03-20T17:46:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T17:46:33","slug":"arsenal-vs-man-city-comparison-matrix-combined-xi","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/arsenal-vs-man-city-comparison-matrix-combined-xi\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal vs Man City: The Comparison Matrix combined XI for Carabao Cup final"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We\u2019ve delved into all of the stats using the Squawka Comparison Matrix to pick out a combined Arsenal<\/a> and Manchester City<\/a> XI ahead of the Carabao Cup<\/a> final on Sunday.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check the stats and see our eventual combined XI below. The players we\u2019ve chosen to compare are a combination of the team\u2019s most used XI so far this season and predicted lineups for the match itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga vs James Trafford<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Trafford edges Kepa quite comfortably here. While the Spaniard has been busier, the Englishman looks safer between the sticks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Trafford is a better goalkeeper overall anyway. He only lost his starting spot at Manchester City because they signed one of the best shot-stoppers in the world. Otherwise it would have been him as the number one option and someone else in this comparison here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner:<\/strong> James Trafford<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right-back: Ben White vs Matheus Nunes<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Another comfortable win in favour of the Gunners. Using Premier League data to have a wider range of statistics, White takes the cake in a number of different categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Numbers show that he has been more creative and involved going forward while also being more solid and efficient at the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While none of them are actually right-backs originally and both present distinct playing styles, the head-to-head comparison has the Englishman ahead of the Portuguese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner:<\/strong> Ben White<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Centre-backs: William Saliba vs Abdukodir Khusanov vs Gabriel Magalhaes vs Ruben Dias<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The riskier nature of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, compared to Mikel Arteta’s safer and often risk-averse style at Arsenal, favours the City centre-backs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abdukodir Khusanov is the outright winner in this exercise, edging all three of his peers. He is a more combative and also busier defender than the other three. Though he could rank fourth in overall quality, he has been much better as of late and Guardiola seems to be rewarding him with playing time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabriel Magalhaes follows up and joins him in the combined XI. Despite the many ‘haters’ for his sometimes annoying antics, there is no denying of the quality he possesses at the back. The aerial presence, as expected, also stands out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winners:<\/strong> Abdukodir Khusanov, Gabriel Magalhaes<\/p>\n\n\n

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