Manchester United's Saturday trip to Arsenal is the Premier League's first "billion pound game", according to financial analysts Vysyble.

The two sides have won a combined 16 Premier League titles since the league's inception in 1992.

And according to Vysyble, the two sides' combined turnover ensures this weekend's clash at the Emirates is a record breaker.

The claim is based on the Arsenal posting revenues of £424million in 2016-17, while United earned a record £581million; double-digit percentage increases for both, based on the previous year.

In a statement, Vysyble's Roger Bell said: "This is a remarkable achievement for the Premier League in terms of reflecting the success in driving revenues via lucrative TV rights deals.''

Arsenal come into the game after a 5-0 thumping of Huddersfield (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)
United scored four at Watford (
Image:
AFP)

However, the huge sums - brought in largely via sponsorship and TV rights - do not directly translate into profits, with all Premier League clubs spending increasing amounts on transfer fees and wages.

According to Vysyble - and other financial analysts - clubs fail to take into account the true cost of doing business and actually make economic losses.

"This is part of a longer-term trend whereby clubs in general are finding it very difficult, despite their record revenue levels, to generate value and achieve an economic profit, which is where all the costs of doing business are accounted for, including taxes,'' he said.

According to Bell, the losses of Arsenal (£4.2m) and United (£16.3m) are "modest".

Manchester United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine)
Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke (
Image:
PA)

The rich are hoping to get richer in the coming months, with broadcast rights for the Premier League out to tender.

Some have suggested that after a 70 percent rise in the domestic market last time out, the increase at home won't be so great - with the big gains to be made via international rights.

And Bell believes that that will only lead to the so-called "big six" pushing once more for a greater share - potentially changing the English landscape.

"We continue to worry for the game's longer-term health and structure as the continued quest for revenue will inevitably lead the top clubs to look beyond current competition formats.''