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Man Utd v Arsenal: Which team's players travelled furthest on international duty?

Picture released by Photosport Chile showing Chile's player Alexis Sanchez taking a break in Santiago on November 8, 2016 during a training session ahead o
Image: Alexis Sanchez flew 14,416 miles on Chile duty

Arsenal players have racked up over 18,000 more air miles during the international break than their counterparts at Manchester United, according to a Sky Sports study.

The two rivals meet at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime - live on Sky Sports - but will the toll of trekking the globe cost Arsene Wenger's side?

Star striker Alexis Sanchez has travelled the furthest of any first-team player at the two clubs, making the 14,416-mile journey to Chile and back, picking up an injury in the process.

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Reserve Gunners goalkeeper David Ospina has also racked up 14,416 miles on Colombia duty but is unlikely to start on Saturday. 

Alex Iwobi (6,424 miles with Nigeria), Mohamed Elneny (4,208 miles with Egypt) and Shkodran Mustafi (2,428 miles with Germany) have all travelled considerable distances - although England forward Theo Walcott didn't have far to go for England's two games at Wembley.

Distance travelled
Image: Arsenal players have travelled further than Man Utd's

Hector Bellerin travelled to Spain, picked up an injury and returned home without playing for the U21s, an approximate 1,964 mile journey.

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In total, Arsenal's squad travelled approximately 48,869 miles, with Petr Cech (retired from internationals), Francis Coquelin, Mesut Ozil, Gabriel, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs (all not selected) among those able to stay at home.

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Distance travelled
Image: Sergio Romero has travelled the furthest during the break

In contrast, Manchester United players travelled around 30,883 miles during the break.

Back-up 'keeper Sergio Romero travelled the furthest, a whopping 14,338 miles, to play for Argentina, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan had a 4,694-mile return journey to Armenia.

Sergio Romero in action against Colombia during clears the ball during a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier
Image: Sergio Romero travelled 14,338 miles to play for Argentina

Spanish trio David de Gea, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera travelled 2,297 miles each, while Matteo Darmian (756 miles with Italy) and Memphis Depay (457 miles with Netherlands) had considerably shorter journeys. Wayne Rooney had a simple trip down to Wembley and back.

Marcus Rojo, Phil Jones, Anthony Martial, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young, Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Timothy Fosu-Mensah were not selected, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic has retired from internationals and Eric Bailly, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Marouane Fellaini and Chris Smalling missed out due to injury.

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