Gunners are looking for their first win at Old Trafford since September 2007.
When the FA Cup drew a potential tie between Man United and Arsenal at Old Trafford, the collective sigh of depression among the Gunners faithful could almost be heard around the country.
Their trepidation is understandable, they will travel to the Theatre of Dreams hoping to witness a miracle and see their side leave victorious for the first time in almost a decade.
With so much focus on Arsenal’s record away at Man United, we have decided to find out the journey taken by last XI to take to the field the last time Arsenal were triumphant in the red half of Manchester.
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GK) Jens Lehmann
The German is a legend at the club and featured heavily in the recent Invincibles documentary highlighting his importance to, arguably, the greatest Premier League side in history.
However, his last year at the club was sensitive as he found himself playing back-up to Manuel Almunia who he publicly despised. However on this day, a sensational save from Ole Gunnar Solksjaer proved his undoubted quality.
Lehman has since retired and spent the last few years doing his coaching badges at Arsenal and also some punditry work in Germany.
RB) Emmanuel Eboue
One of the most colourful characters to ever appear in the Premier League, there was only a certain amount of time before Gunners fans saw through the antics to see an average player as their first choice right-back.
Eboue was at his best going forward and the 2006/07 season was his last as a regular starter as Wenger brought in Bacary Sagna who would make that position his own over the next eight years.
Sold to Galatasaray in the summer of 2011, Eboue is still at the Turkish giant.
CB) Johan Djourou
Another play Arsenal fans hope to banish from their memories with the Swiss international marking a depressing time for the club, where finances were tight and top quality centre backs couldn’t be purchased.
Djourou seemed so insignificant that Arsenal confirmed his exit a year after he had departed for Hamburg where he currently plies his trade.
CB) Kolo Toure
Member of the Invincibles, Toure almost started the mass exodus in north London with the club seemingly making a statement that their players were all up for sale at the right price and to rival clubs too.
Toure ended up at the revolution taking place at Manchester City alongside a fellow Arsenal player and managed to pick up another league title and an FA Cup during his time there.
Liverpool is now is home with Toure revitalising his career after a difficult end to last season.
LB) William Gallas
In just four years at Arsenal, Gallas had one hell of a journey at the club with on-field tantrums and being stripped off the captaincy the tip of the iceberg. Signed from Chelsea in a swap deal with Ashley Cole that summer, Gallas found himself at left-back in this game having previously complained about the position during his ugly exit out of Stamford Bridge.
After running down his four-year contract at Arsenal, Gallas completed his London tour by signing for arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur where he also spent another four years of his career.
A stint at Perth Glory was followed by the Frenchman announced his retirement from the professional game last year.
CDM) Gilberto Silva
There is an argument that Arsenal haven’t yet adequately replaced the sensational Brazilian and have struggled without his stature and know-how in the position. Claude Makelele was universally known as the master in that position but Gilberto was arguably the next best thing.
Arsenal may have let go of their World Cup winner prematurely with Gilberto still very much part of his national side, featuring heavily in the 2010 World Cup.
Following a period in Greece with Pathanainkos, Gilberto ended his career at his home-town club Atlelico Miniero.
CM) Cesc Fabregas
The prodigal son, the teenager who forced Arsene Wenger to sell the iconic Patrick Vieira so who he could build his team around the gifted Spaniard, and he is now lining up alongside Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
Someday, the Gunners fans will certainly get an explanation as to how that was allowed to transpire with Fabregas stating that he wanted a Gunners return.
LM) Tomas Rosicky
The only survivor from the side and Rosicky’s longevity at Arsenal is testament to the fact that he embodies the philosophy at the club perfectly, and intelligent midfielder with sublime technique.
RM) Freddy Ljungberg
Will forever be engraved in Arsenal history and was one of Arsene Wenger’s first signings and probably one of the most successful too. Arriving to the Premier League champions in 1998, Ljungberg made the right-midifeld position his own and had a habit of scoring against Man United. Part of the Invincibles, the Swede ended his career at Mumbai City having sporadically appeared for various clubs around the globe.
CAM) Alex Hleb
One of the most technically gifted players to appear for Arsenal, Hleb was deployed behind the loan striker which made him difficult to pick up and he enjoyed a lovely partnership with Cesc Fabergas and Tomas Rosicky.
However, when Barcelona came calling Hleb was moved on and that was the beginning of the end for the Belorussian as he was left on the bench and out of the squad.
Hleb returned to England with Birmingham City which highlights his drastic demise and is now playing in Turkey for Gençlerbirli?i S.K.
CF) Emannuel Adebayor
Where do you start with the controversial Togo forward? After Wenger signed him from AS Monaco for a very modest fee, Adebayor’s reputation as a fearsome forward was far from a reality.
After a couple of years in north London under the guidance of Thierry Henry, it was Adebayor who replaced the legendary Frenchman as Arsenal’s main front man, scoring 30 goals in the 2007/08 season. Ironically, he also scored the winner in this encounter in the dying embers of the game to give his team the votry at Old Trafford.
However, the attitude issues many alluded to prior to his arrival started to appear and Adebayor was shipped on with his career taking a similar trajectory at his last few clubs. Complete dedication to win over the fans, then shift to the opposite until his own fanbase start to resent him. This was the case at Manchester City, and is currently a similar situation with Adebayor at White Hart Lane.