Five classics between Arsenal and United.
As Arsenal and Manchester United renew their long standing rivalry at the Emirates Stadium this weekend, here’s a look back at five classics between these two Premier League giants. It is hard to narrow it down to just five, with these two providing this country with some of the best teams and players in recent English football history, but here’s our pick…
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5) Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal
Not an even contest by any stretch of the imagination, but this game has to go down as one to remember as Manchester United absolutely humiliated Arsenal with an eight-goal show. Even Ashley Young managed to look good in this game, scoring two fine solo efforts to down an injury-plagued Gunners side who looked in a total crisis after this showing at Old Trafford. Interestingly, Danny Welbeck was on the scoresheet for United, while Robin van Persie pulled one back for Arsenal that afternoon, though the two players have since swapped clubs, with the former set to take on the Red Devils for the first time since leaving the club in a £16m deadline day move this summer.
4) Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United
Manchester United were flying high at the top of the table at the time while Arsenal struggled in a fight for fourth place. Still, on this afternoon the glory was Arsenal’s as they produced a thrilling late comeback to steal the points from their opponents. Wayne Rooney had headed the visitors into an early second half lead at the Emirates Stadium, with what looked like being the winning goal. Still, with less than ten minutes remaining Robin van Persie slid home an equaliser to set up a grandstand finish. Deep into stoppage time, Thierry Henry scored a rare header with a superb effort to give United no time to reply.
3) Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
In what was almost a cup final for the league title, Sylvain Wiltord’s now-famous second half goal gave Arsenal a hard-fought 1-0 win against reigning champions Manchester United at Old Trafford to mathematically take the title away from Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. As ever, this game was a fiercely contested battle with the tackles flying in, but Arsenal showed plenty of quality and composure to take the three points when only one was needed to confirm their status as champions for the 2001/02 season.
2) Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United
In one of the most memorable FA Cup ties in modern history, Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs produced a solo goal to remember in one of the most important matches en route to an historic treble for the Red Devils. David Beckham scored first in this semi-final at Villa Park, before a deflected effort from Dennis Bergkamp brought the Gunners level. It was then the Dutch striker’s penalty right at the end that could’ve changed the course of history, only for the heroic Peter Schmeichel to pull off a great save and take the game to extra time. Giggs did the rest and settled this classic encounter in an amazing season.
1) Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal
Not a classic football match, finishing 0-0 at Old Trafford in a game of relatively few chances, but this game was when the intense rivalry between these two clubs reached boiling point and produced one of the great footballing scraps. Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira accused Ruud van Nistelrooy of play-acting to get him sent off, and when the Dutchman’s stoppage time penalty hit the bar, he was mobbed by Martin Keown and others in an incredible show of solidarity. Although criticised at the time for their behaviour, this spirit saw Arsenal go the season unbeaten in another legendary Premier League season.