Almost every year without fail since Arsenal finished the 2003/04 season unbeaten a contender emerges, touted as being capable of repeating a feat that has been accomplished only once in the modern era, only to fall at the hurdle they face immediately after being billed as The Invincibles 2.1.

Having made a blistering start to the new campaign, Manchester City are the latest side to be saddled with the comparison. With nine wins from 10 games, 35 goals scored, a vastly improved goalkeeper, a miserly defence and a world class manager in Pep Guardiola, it is easy to appreciate why so many are raising the prospect of the Spaniard’s relentless attacking machine posting a Played 38, Lost 0 record.

Is yours gold? (Picture: Getty)
Is yours gold? (Picture: Getty)

Guardiola himself has already played down the possibility of going a full league campaign without losing, while Kevin De Bruyne, a central figure in City’s blistering form, believes the competition is currently far tougher than it was 13 years ago when Arsenal sauntered to the title with four games to spare.

Whether City are capable of matching one of the greatest sides of the Premier League era remains to be seen. Even at this early stage, however, comparisons in terms of style, a commitment to attacking and entertaining are valid which led us to wonder how a combined XI comprising of Wenger’s class of 2004 and Guardiola’s present day pacesetters could line-up…

EDERSON

Ederson has made a hugely impressive start to his Manchester City career (Picture: Getty)

Eyebrows were raised when Guardiola splashed out £35million on an uncapped Brazilian, particularly given his decision to replace Joe Hart with Claudio Bravo went a long way to undermining City’s attempts to keep pace with Chelsea last season.

Up to this point, the second most expensive goalkeeper in history has proved to be a huge upgrade on Bravo. An agile and fearless shot stopper, Ederson just gets the nod over his 2004 counterpart Jens Lehmann, given his remarkable distribution skills which have launched numerous City counter attacks this season.

LAUREN

Lauren was a ferocious competitor (Picture: Getty)
Lauren was a ferocious competitor (Picture: Getty)

Perhaps the most underrated member of Wenger’s most revered side, Lauren gets our vote over Kyle Walker. The Cameroon international had to be convinced by his manager that he could carve out a career at right-back having joined the Gunners as a versatile midfielder, but the transition was a pretty seamless one.

After an injury interrupted start to his City career, Walker has impressed in recent weeks and although he is probably more of a threat than the former Arsenal man going forward, witness his assist for Raheem Sterling in last weekend’s win over West Brom, we’re plumping for Lauren on account of the fact he was made of concrete.

JOHN STONES

Pep Guardiola loves John Stones’ balls (Picture: Getty)

Even during his darkest moments last season, Guardiola made a point of commending the former Everton defender for the size of his balls. ‘John Stones has more personality than all of us here together in this room,’ Guardiola said following a 1-1 draw against Liverpool. ‘More balls than everyone here.’

For £50million you would hope for something special and after 18 months under his tuition, it appears that Guardiola is the best thing that could have happened to Stones’ career, with the England defender emerging from the shadow of Vincent Kompany, martialling a defence which has kept six clean sheets this season, a record bettered only by Manchester United.

SOL CAMPBELL

Sol Campbell won the double in his first season and took over from Tony Adams as the leader of Arsenal’s defence (Picture: Getty)

Talking of sizable balls, step forward Sol Campbell, a man willing to cross the north London divide on a free transfer having previously stated he would only leave Tottenham for a move abroad.

The former England international played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s 2001/02 double winning season, but it wasn’t until the Invincible campaign that he reached his truly monstrous peak.

ASHLEY COLE

It all started going wrong for Arsenal from the moment Ashley Cole left (Picture: Getty)
It all started going wrong for Arsenal from the moment Ashley Cole left (Picture: Getty)

One of the best left-backs of his or any other generation, Cole would walk into this team regardless of the two players City recruited this summer to the tune of £77million to contest a position on the left-hand side of their defence.

Benjamin Mendy’s knee ligament injury cut the France international down in his prime and his role this season now looks to be restricted to that of Twitter banter merchant, while Fabian Delph has jumped ahead of Danilo in the pecking order.

KEVIN DE BRUYNE

The favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year Award (Picture: Getty)

An early contender for player of the season, the Belgium international is turning into a souped up version of the man who occupied Arsenal’s right-flank during the early to mid-noughties.

Freddie Ljungberg was famed for his industry, the timing of his runs and goalscoring prowess but even the most ardent Gooners would surely admit De Bruyne is operating on another level at the moment.

PATRICK VIEIRA

Patrick Vieira has never been replaced by Arsene Wenger (Picture: Getty)
Patrick Vieira has never been replaced by Arsene Wenger (Picture: Getty)

The endless stream of ‘new Patrick Vieiras’ appears to have dried up, hopefully owing to the collective realisation that Captain Invincible was a once in a lifetime talent. Marrying skill and athleticism, Vieira was equally adept at elegantly juggling the ball, flicking it over an opponent’s head and powering off into the distance as he was at changing the course of a match with a bone-shuddering tackle. Even more so than Thierry Henry, Vieira is the player Arsene Wenger has struggled most to replace.

DAVID SILVA

Despite all the investment, David Silva remains a key cog in Man City’s wheel (Picture: Getty)

With Vieria doing the job of two men, we’re happy to forgo another defensive-minded midfielder in order to select perhaps one of the most underappreciated players in Premier League history. Short of frame and sleight of stature, David Silva has spent seven years defying conventional wisdom and earning a reputation as decisive and multi-faceted playmaker. Guardiola has spent heavily rebuilding and reshaping his attack over the course of the last three transfer windows. That Silva remains such an integral part of his team speaks volumes.

ROBERT PIRES

Robert Pires is still part of the furniture at Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

The Frenchman’s combination with Cole on Arsenal’s left-flank routinely tormented opposition who were unable to cope with the prospect of a marauding full-back and a winger equally adept at cutting in and bending home a shot from 20 yards as roasting a defender for pace on the outside. Pires was at his peak in the double campaign two seasons earlier, but 19 goals in all competitions so soon after recovering from a knee ligament injury was hardly a mediocre return in 2003/04.

THIERRY HENRY

Thierry Henry dominated the 2003/04 Premier League season (Picture: Getty)
Thierry Henry dominated the 2003/04 Premier League season (Picture: Getty)

The greatest goalscorer in Arsenal’s history and possibly the greatest player of the Premier League era, Henry would walk into this side, regardless of the competition he’d face from the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Gabriel Jesus. Goals, assists and not shortage of Va Va Voom, Arsenal are unlikely to see his like again. And he wasn’t half bad at Barcelona under Guardiola, either!

SERGIO AGUERO

Sergio Aguero is now Man City’s all-time leading goalscorer (Picture: Getty)

A model of goalscoring consistency ever since his move from Atletico Madrid six years ago, Aguero might not be the first name on Guardiola’s team sheet these days but he’d be among the first on ours. Explosive pace, capable of finishing with precision or power and undoubtedly a man for the big occasion, Augero would merit a place simply on account of being responsible for the most iconic moment in Premier League history.

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