Arsenal may be favourites to win a historic Premier League and Champions League double - but they'd get battered by Manchester United's 2008 side.
That's the brutal view of Red Devils legend Wayne Rooney, who was part of the last United team to lift the European Cup where they beat Chelsea in the final.
Wayne Rooney celebrates with the Champions League trophy
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Rooney helped United reach three Champions League finals - winning once in 2008Credit: Getty
Rooney was on punditry on Tuesday night as part of Amazon Prime's team to discuss Arsenal's Champions League tie away at Inter Milan.
He was joined by ex-England teammate and Gunners cult hero Theo Walcott - a player he enjoyed much success against during his career.
The former England skipper scored 15 goals against Arsenal across all competitions - the joint-most he fired in against any team.
Rooney was on target against the Gunners as a fresh-faced 16-year-old on his first meeting with them for Everton in 2002, and in his final clash against them in 2017 following his return to Goodison Park.
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In total, 11 of his goals against Arsenal came during his trophy-laden 13-year spell with United.
And he has insisted that despite an unprecedented quadruple being on for the current Arsenal team, they couldn't hold a candle against the 2008 United side, which also boasted the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes.
Gunned down
In the pre-match build-up to the San Siro clash, Walcott was quick to describe United's Champions League-winning squad from 18 years ago as the toughest opponent he battled from his career.
He then proceeded to ask Rooney how that side would fare against the current defensively resilient Arsenal side - stacked with physical presence.
Walcott said: "Would your '08 team compete, well you would compete against this team, but how does it compare to your 2008 team?
"Which by the way, was probably the best team that I've ever played against.
Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring against Inter Milan
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Arsenal currently sit top of both he Premier League and Champions League tableCredit: Getty
Wayne Rooney on Amazon Prime punditry duty
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Despite Arsenal's dominance this season, Rooney isn't fancying their chance against the 2008 United team
"This [Arsenal] squad against that one."
Without hesitation, Rooney responded in rapid fashion: "We'd batter them."
Following stunned laughter from host Gabby Logan and Walcott, a smiling Rooney then added: "I think we would, I think we would.
"I have to be honest."
Logan concluded the segment by saying: "I think it took you all of half a second to come up with that answer."
Rooney was then able to witness Arsenal's destruction of Inter as they cruised to a 3-1 victory despite Mikel Arteta making seven changes.
The victory has seen Arsenal rack up seven consecutive wins to remain top of the league phase table - the only side to still boast a 100 per cent record.
Arsenal now turn their attention to facing Rooney's beloved United at the Emirates on Sunday.
Victory in north London would see Arsenal do the Premier League double over United for just the second time since the 2006/07 season.
But most crucially, it would ensure they remain at least seven points clear at the top in their quest to win a first top-flight title in 22 years.
And with Arsenal still in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and into the FA Cup fourth round, it could be a historic season for the club.
Arsenal vs Man United verdict
It is Michael Carrick's second game in charge of Man United during his interim spell.
He has already beaten rival Man City, but could he do it again and take down Arsenal.
It's perhaps a tougher prospect going into the Emirates against the top-of-the-table Gunners.
But talkSPORT's Inside Devils YouTube show think there will be some nerves for Sunday's opponents.
Man United fan and influencer Flex said: "This Arsenal game is fascinating because obviously I want to say there will be a come down off the Man City game, but you don't want it to be a come down.
"You want to be continuation, but you do have to always remember your most important game is your next one. That's in the past.
Now we've beaten City. We've set a benchmark. Arsenal come with a different type of skill set needed to get the better of them.
"Arsenal are a different proposition. They're a better team than City.
"They're harder to score against. They're not as open, but they're not in their free-flowing most attacking form, but they're still a top team at a stadium in the Emirates that we don't do well in."
talkSPORT's Angelina Kelly wants to see Carrick go for it at the Emirates and not play too safely.
She said: "You look at Arsenal's season and how brilliant they have been, but that result against Forest wasn't what they wanted. This is a must win game for them.
""They are excellent in so many ways, but you speak to Arsenal fans and how nervous they are.
"There are nerves and this whole bottle jobm whether fans want to admit to it or not, that is kind of on their backs. So I think that this is a very important game. It's going to be a must win for them.
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"I think for Manchester United, despite the Manchester City game, if we lose this game, currently as things stand, it is to the expected Premier League champions.
"I would like to see us just just go for it. Whatever Michael Carrick does I think he'll probably keep it quite similar."