Arsenal are set to face Manchester City in a huge clash in the Premier League title race, and they will be missing their captain Martin Odegaard.
Odegaard has been ruled out for several weeks with injury, in a huge blow for Arsenal given his importance to the side.
On the other side of the title race, Man City pounced on the perfect opportunity as they were able to bring their former captain Ilkay Gundogan back to the club from Barcelona.
Gundogan proved vital for Man City over the years, and having the midfielder back could be decisive over the course of the season.
Pep Guardiola has had several world-class midfielders at his disposal during his time at City, and Gundogan is up there with the best.
However, the German has now claimed that one of his old teammates was better than himself, and even better than three top-quality midfielders Arsenal have had this century.
Ilkay Gundogan claims David Silva was better than Patrick Vieira, Mesut Ozil and Cesc Fabregas
Speaking to Mail Sport, Gundogan was asked to pick between Man City legend David Silva and other midfield greats, and he was adamant that the Spaniard was the best of them all.
When asked to choose between former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas and ex-City star Yaya Toure, Gundogan picked the Ivorian.
Gundogan then selected Silva over Toure, and no one could displace him from the top choice.
The 33-year-old was then asked to pick between Silva and his former Germany teammate Mesut Ozil, and after a big hesitation, Gundogan stuck with Silva.
Patrick Vieira’s name then came up, and Gundogan snubbed the Arsenal legend for the former Spain star.
A lot of Arsenal fans would disagree with Gundogan’s choices, despite the quality Silva showed over the years.
David Silva compared to iconic Arsenal midfielders
Silva was world-class at his best, but some may argue that when Ozil played in the Premier League at the same time as him, on his best day no one could touch the German as a playmaker in an inconsistent Arsenal side.
The more surprising pick came when comparing Silva to Vieira. The Frenchman is one of the greatest midfielders and captains in Premier League history, and his blend of physicality and technical supremacy was unmatched.
Silva was a very different player to Vieira, but no Arsenal fan would agree that he was better than the legendary midfielder.
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