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Football

14th May 2015

John O’Shea features in all-time XI of Manchester United’s best performers against Arsenal

Funnily enough, no room for Ronaldo

Patrick McCarry

A couple of Fergie’s specialists in here.

Manchester United are taking on Arsenal at Old Trafford, this Sunday, and have been asking supporters, all week, for their best players to ever do a job on the Gunners.

Following Twitter and Facebook feedback, and with a slightly subjective skew, the club’s official website has compiled a ‘Greatest XI vs. Arsenal’.

There are some inclusions that, to the uneducated, may strike one as a surprise.

For starters, Ji Sung Park is selected ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. There is no sign of Paul Scholes, while Phil Neville makes the bench.

There is no room in the back three for Rio Ferdinand, Gordon McQueen, Steve Bruce or Denis Irwin. Rather, John O’Shea joins Nemanja Vidic and Gary Neville.

MUFC AFC Dream Team

As for the subs bench, it has a mix of stardust, goalscorers and man-markers.

Subs: Van der Sar, Ferdinand, P.Neville, Byrne, Ronaldo, Sharpe, Rowley.

For those of you that may be questioning the inclusion of Park, he scored five goals in 13 appearances against them, including one in the Champions League semi-final, in May 2009, and the winner in a December 2010 league match.

As for O’Shea, anyone who witnessed his sublime lob against the Gunners, at Highbury, in February 2005, will brook no arguments.

Even you, Bergkamp.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 3:  John O'Shea of Man Utd argues with Dennis Bergkamp of Arsenal after diving during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Villa Park on April 3, 2004 in Birmingham, England.  (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

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