Before the oligarchs came in, Manchester United v/s Arsenal was the defining match of the league.
Before rich oligarchs came to British shores, Man Utd vs Arsenal used to be the title-decided in the Premier League. Till Chelsea won the Premier League in 2004, the only team other than Man Utd or the Gunners to win the league since the inception of the Premier League was Blackburn Rovers. Now as the two face off the circumstances have changed. While Man Utd are still dealing with life after Feguson, Arsenal are trying to end a long wait for a Premier League title as they chase surprise league leaders Leicester City. The Gunners have beaten Man Utd earlier in the season and to warm up for the match, here are some classic United-Arsenal clashes.
1) Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United (FA Cup 1999 semi-final replay)
The last FA Cup semi-final replay will always be remembered one of the greatest goals scored in the competition. After David Beckham fired Man Utd ahead and Dennis Bergkamp equalised, the match was evenly poised before Peter Schmeichel stopped an injury-time penalty from Bergkamp. Ryan Giggs would then score a Maradonaesque goal from half-line as he dribbled through the Arsenal defence to put Manchester United on their way to a historic treble.
2) Manchester United 6-1 Arsenal (Premier League 2001)
Before the 8-2 drubbing, there was the 6-1 at Old Trafford where the Red Devils wrapped up their seventh title in nine season to go 16 points clear. Dwight Yorke scored a hat-trick while Roy Keane, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham scored goals to hand Wenger a comprehensive defeat.
3) Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal (Premier League 2002)
The Gunners would have their revenge a year later as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford to wrap up the title. Slyvain Wiltord scored the only goal of the match, and completed their second double in four years.
4) Arsenal 2-2 Manchester United (Premier League 2003)
Manchester United would look to get back the title they thought was their own, a year later when they went to Highbury with a three-point lead at the summit. Dutch hitman Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored in the first half before the Thierry Henry scored 2 goals to put Arsenal ahead. However, Giggs equalised and Man Utd would go on to win the league.
5) Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal (Premier League 2003)
The next game would see one of the most classic scoreless games of all time. The Arsenal-United rivalry was at its peak and the match would be remembered for eight yellow cards, a Patrick Viera-sending off and Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s missed penalty in the 91st minute. It’s ironic to see Arsene Wenger complaining about Diego Costa’s behaviour now when you see how Martin Keown heckled Nistelrooy after the miss. Wenger’s side wouldn’t lose another game for the rest of the season as they notched up a 49-game unbeaten strike.
6) Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal (Premier League 2004)
Ruud Van Nistelrooy would have his revenge a year later when they ended the unbeaten run of the Invincibles as he scored the penalty that would condemn Arsenal to a 2-0 defeat. The match would also be remembered for the incident that would come to be known as Pizzagate as someone threw pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson. However, neither Manchester United nor Arsenal would win the league as Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea ran out winners.
7) Arsenal 2-4 Manchester United (Premier League 2005)
The infamous tunnel incident took place in this match as Roy Keane told Patrick Viera “I will see you out there”. United ran out 4-2 winners but failed to win the league as Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea emerged as the new brash kids on the block.
8) Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal (FA Cup Final 2005, Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties)
Man Utd dominated the match against the Gunners but failed to breach their goal and in extra-time Paul Scholes missed the penalty that allowed Arsenal to lift the FA Cup. This defeat would however be an important lesson for the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo who would return stronger.
9) Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United (UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg 2009)
This was a time when the Premier League was at the height of its powers as three of the four, semi-finalists were from the Premier League (however, Barcelona would win the UCL to start the tiki-taka era). This match will be remembered for Manchester United’s counter-attacking skills as Ronaldo, Rooney and Park Ji-Sung ripped Arsenal to shreds. Oh and Ronaldo also scored a free-kick goal from near the half-way line!
10) Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal (Premier League 2011)
A naive Arsenal side, devoid of the newly-departed Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, were destroyed by Manchester United which included a hat-trick by Wayne Rooney, two for Ashley Young and goals for Welbeck, Nani and Park. Walcott and Van Persie scored for the Gunners, but despite the victory, United would lose the title to their ‘Noisy Neighbours’ who would win the league in extra time.
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