Would Man Utd 2008 really 'batter' Arsenal 2026?

Maybe Theo Walcott realised what he had said as soon as the words left his mouth.

Walcott was talking to Wayne Rooney when he appeared to question if the Manchester United team of 2008 could "compete" with the Arsenal side of today.

Asked how they compare, Rooney did not hesitate for a second.

"Yeah, we'd batter them," United's all-time record goalscorer answered.

Of course, you would expect him to say that considering he was part of the United team.

In fairness to Walcott, he did also say the United side of '08 were "probably the best team that I've ever played against".

Rooney and Walcott were working as pundits for Amazon Prime during Arsenal's 3-1 win at Inter Milan in the Champions League.

It was a result which continued the Gunners' 100% record in the league phase. They are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and hold a 3-2 advantage over Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

With a home time against League One outfit Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup, an unprecedented quadruple is very much alive.

But was former Arsenal winger Walcott right to even make such a comparison?

It took United seven years to sign a suitable replacement for Peter Schmeichel.

In Edwin van der Sar they found an experienced and solid goalkeeper who could finally provide the same commanding presence.

Van der Sar was 37 by the time the 2008 Champions League final came along.

You might think the Netherlands international was at the end of his career. He would in fact play on at Old Trafford for another three years.

David Raya, 30, is perhaps a goalkeeper more suited to the modern game - athletic, comfortable with the ball at his feet and with key distributions skills.

If we were making this judgement purely on trophies then Van der Sar bosses it. Between Ajax and United, up to 2008 he had won the Champions League twice, six league titles and four domestic cups - to name a few of his medals.

Raya, meanwhile, has yet to win any domestic honours. He has won titles with Spain, at Euro 2024 and the Nations League, but as back-up to Unai Simon.

So, on achievements, it is Van der Sar who wins hands down.

But if you want a goalkeeper for the modern day, maybe it is Raya.