Ahead of the third meeting of the season with PL rivals Man Utd v Arsenal, it’s worth looking back at some classic encounters the pair have played out.
Man Utd v Arsenal: A Rivalry Lasting 25 Years And Counting
They may no longer be duking it out for silverware, but tension remains between the Red Devils and Gunners, who have played out some of English football’s most decisive and dramatic clashes of the last 30 years.
Man Utd v Arsenal – (PL, 13th March 1998)
While these two sides have a storied rivalry, the friction reached another level when Arsene Wenger arrived in 1996. Before long, he had the Gunners in the hunt for the Premier League title. Arsenal went to Old Trafford nine points behind the Red Devils, but they had three games in hand. A strike from Marc Overmars gave the Gunners a vital victory, spurring them on to complete a league and cup double.
Man Utd v Arsenal (PL 1st February 2005)
This game is a lightning rod for a series of clashes in the 2000s. It followed on from Martin Keown’s leaping taunt of Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2003 and came months after ‘Pizzagate’ when a brawl erupted after Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten run ended with a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford.
Three months before they would meet in the FA Cup final, the rivals shared six goals in a clash most notable for what came before it. Roy Keane and Patrick Viera’s tunnel showdown remains one of the most iconic Premier League moments. The Frenchman scored an early opener in the bad-tempered clash before United roared back in their penultimate visit to Highbury.
Man Utd v Arsenal (CL, 5th May 2009)
In 2009, Manchester United were at the height of their powers. The Red Devils were the reigning Premier League and European champions. However, they were only able to secure a 1-0 win at Old Trafford, leaving the door open for Arsenal in the return leg of this semi-final.
The Gunners were unable to live with United, who flew into a 2-0 lead within 11 minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo scored an audacious long-range free-kick before Kieran Gibbs’ slip allowed Park Ji-Sung to double United’s aggregate lead. Ronaldo’s second just after the hour mark wrapped things up, sending United to a second consecutive Champions League final.
Man Utd v Arsenal, (PL 28th August 2011)
Arsenal started the 2011/12 season without a trophy in six years and they hit a new low with this Old Trafford drubbing. By the time Wayne Rooney completed his hat-trick on 82 minutes – after strikes from Danny Welbeck, Nani and Park – there was little doubt about the gulf between the sides.
Ashley Young’s second goal in the 91st minute made it 8-2, completing Arsenal’s heaviest league defeat since 1927. While this was a dark day for the Gunners, it inadvertently led to today’s resurgence. Arsenal made six hasty signings in the days before the transfer window closed, among them was the £10 million purchase of Mikel Arteta.
Man Utd v Arsenal (PL 22nd January 2023)
Both sides had their issues in the 2010s following the departures of their legendary managers, but this 2023 clash saw Arsenal pushing for the title while Manchester United were sitting in third. The game came just a month after the Qatar World Cup and English talents featured heavily. Marcus Rashford struck first for the Red Devils in the middle of arguably the best spell of his Old Trafford career.
Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka struck back for the Gunners before Lisandro Martinez equalised six minutes later. Nketiah struck the winner in stoppage time to keep his side five points clear of City.
By Adrian Mills
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