One of the biggest rivalries in the world of football will take place on Sunday, Arsenal host Manchester United, there is some extra spice added into this game thanks to Manchester United leading the Premier League for the first time in a couple of years and Louis van Gaal will be looking to continue doing the good work with the team while Arsene Wenger will look to close down the gap to the leaders.
Historically this has been one of the biggest games in the Premier League and it has had its fair share of great games and rather passionate and unsavoury moments. The Pizza fight, the 8-2 mauling, Premier League deciding games, tough tackling, and excitement is guaranteed when these two clubs meet and we look back to five of the greatest games between the two clubs.
28th August 2011: Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal
This match will be remembered by every Manchester United fan and Arsenal fan but for opposing reasons. “8-2 be an Arsenal fan” was the joke being run around, Manchester United battered the Gunners and despite winning this game, they ended up second to Manchester City in the league. This was Arsenal’s worst defeat since 1896 and probably will not be beaten in a long time.
24th October 2004: Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal
So Arsenal came strolling into town on the back of a record 48-match unbeaten run, the Gunners had broken all sorts of records and for their 49th game, they were to face Manchester United. While many predicted the Gunners to come out unscathed, Manchester United and Wayne Rooney ensured that Arsenal do not extend that streak to 49 games and that is etched in history for good.
8th May 2002: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal came to Manchester United needing just one point to win the league, Arsenal had also won the FA Cup a few days ago but Sylvain Wilthord’s goal at Old Trafford gave Arsenal their second double in four years and propelled Arsene Wenger into the legend category of Premier League managers.
21st September 2003: Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal
A game marred by various off the ball incidents, the height of which was when Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penalty hit the bar in stoppage time prompting scenes of players pushing and shoving the Dutch striker. This was the game that took the rivalry between the clubs to another level and many Arsenal players were slapped with suspensions, this was also one of the early games which started the Arsenal unbeaten run but people remember the celebration by Martin Keown more than anything else.
14th March 1998: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
This might have been one of the oldest games between the sides and although their rivalry was not this fierce, this game is still an extremely important one. Arsenal came into the game knowing that a win could take them to the title and a goal by Marc Overmars gave them just that. Arsenal though had a few games in hand and eventually beat Manchester United to the title and also gave them a league and cup double for the first time since 1971.
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