Ryan Giggs said the Arsenal side of 1997-98 was the toughest he has faced – so we compared it with this season's crop

The Arsenal of 1997-98 and now: how the sides measure up

"The toughest Arsenal team for me personally was the 1997-98 Double-winning team. They just had a bit of everything really. Quality with [Dennis] Bergkamp, pace with [Nicolas] Anelka and [Marc] Overmars, the experience of the back four, and then the toughness of [Patrick] Vieira and [Emmanuel] Petit in midfield." So says Ryan Giggs – and who are we to argue? Of course he hasn't faced this year's vintage as yet, so ahead of Sunday's match here's our rundown of how Arsenal 1997-98 compare to the current crop …

David Seaman v Wojciech Szczesny

It's hard to see beyond England's former No1 – well protected he may have been but "Safe Hands" oozed assurance that the young Pole can't yet match

1998 win

Lee Dixon v Bacary Sagna

Dixon flourished under Wenger, but Sagna's mix of athletic prowess and defensive nous stands out in this Arsenal side as he patrols the right-hand side

2013 win

Steve Bould v Laurent Koscielny

Koscielny has pace that Bould may have lacked, but he's still prone to moments of madness, as against Villa, that make Bould the safer bet

1998 win

Tony Adams v Per Mertesacker

The BFG, as the fans have named him, is the organisational hub of the current back four, and is gaining the plaudits his performances deserve – but no one is going to beat Adams in this position. By his own admission, Mr Arsenal started the season poorly. He went to France to recuperate after a 3-1 defeat to Blackburn, and then returned to lead the side on a 10-game winning streak, culminating in that goal against Everton as Arsenal clinched the title with two games to spare

1998 win

Nigel Winterburn v Kieran Gibbs

Gibbs may have the edge going forward, but can't yet match his elder defensively, and Winterburn even scored a crucial winner at Chelsea

1998 win

Ray Parlour v Tomas Rosicky

Arsène Wenger put Parlour in his greatest Arsenal XI, so while he may be underrated by the wider world, he remains appreciated in north London

1998 win

Emmanuel Petit v Mikel Arteta

Wenger's tactics have evolved since 1998, with possession vital and Arteta key to that, but as a purely defensive presence, Petit is hard to beat

1998 win

Patrick Vieira v Aaron Ramsey

Very different players they may be, but Ramsey is the only current midfielder that roams from box-to-box – although Vieira dominated like no other

1998 win

Marc Overmars v Santi Cazorla

The flying Dutchman scored 12 goals in 1997-98, including the winner at Old Trafford. If Cazorla can match that then maybe this will be reconsidered

1998 win

Dennis Bergkamp v Mesut Özil

With Ian Wright and Nicolas Anelka sharing the burden alongside him, Bergkamp finished the season as top scorer – with 16 league goals from 28 starts, including that wondrous hat-trick at Filbert Street. Mesut Özil's arrival gave Arsenal a much- needed boost at the start of the season but comparisons with the Dutchman are premature. He may share the uncanny ability to find space during a frenetic match, but he's yet to prove he can control a game in the way the 1998 double player of the year could

1998 win

Ian Wright v Olivier Giroud

Hampered by injury, Wright's goalscoring record was still exemplary, but Giroud's ability to bring others into play allows this Arsenal side to function

2013 win

Wenger 1998 v Wenger 2013

With a team all of his own making, if Wenger were to win the league this year it could be his greatest achievement to date. The jury is still out

Undecided

1997-98 9-2 2013-14



*1997-98 team based upon most league appearances