Five classic Arsenal games at Old Trafford
Five classic Arsenal games at Old Trafford: From late winners, title deciders and THAT Martin Keown celebration
By Oli Dickson Jefford
Manchester United v Arsenal: it’s one of the biggest domestic footballing rivalries in recent history.
During the late 1990s and 2000s their contests were unmissable, with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger driving their respective clubs to new heights.
With neither side at that level anymore, the match is perhaps less significant nowadays, though there will hardly be any love lost at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Ahead of their latest meeting, we take a look at five memorable meetings between the two at Old Trafford.
March 1998: Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal
We start by heading back 23 years to a match which swung the title race in Arsenal’s favour.
Man Utd were ahead in the table but Arsenal’s victory saw them move just six points behind the Red Devils with three games in hand.
Arsenal controlled the contest with Dennis Bergkamp, Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars causing havoc up front and Tony Adams and Martin Keown dominant at the back.
A goalless draw looked likely, with Arsenal unable to convert their dominance into a goal as the game headed into the final 15 minutes.
Overmars became the hero, latching onto Nicolas Anelka’s flick to slot the ball past Peter Schmeichel and into the bottom corner.
The win proved crucial as Arsenal edged Man Utd to the title by just one point.
February 2003: Man Utd 0-2 Arsenal
Away from the Premier League, this classic FA Cup meeting is a memorable one from an Arsenal perspective.
After a tempestuous start - with three bookings in the opening seven minutes - Man Utd should have been ahead through Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ryan Giggs.
Solskjaer’s best effort came off the post while Giggs rounded David Seaman and had an open goal, only for his shot to sail well over the bar.
And that proved costly just four minutes later, when Edu’s freekick took a wicked deflection off David Beckham and sailed over Fabien Barthez to make it 1-0 before half time.
Just seven minutes after the break it was 2-0 as Sylvain Wiltord side-footed past Barthez and sealed victory, with Wenger’s men ultimately going on to win the FA Cup that season.
September 2003: Man Utd 0-0 Arsenal
A 0-0 draw might not seem like a classic, but if you dig deeper this emerges as one of the most memorable contests between the two.
Arsenal had suffered a heavy defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League a few days before and were largely outplayed, with Man Utd having the best chances.
However, this match is most remembered for the final closing stages which proved to be both dramatic and controversial.
Tempers flared from both sides when Patrick Vieira was sent off in the 81st minute, and it looked as if the home side would snatch victory in the closing stages when Diego Forlan was fouled by Keown in the penalty area.
Ruud van Nistelrooy smashed his penalty against the crossbar, with the Dutchman receiving what was described on the BBC Sport match report as an ‘unsavoury’ response from Arsenal’s defenders - particularly Keown.
The match ultimately finished 0-0, and Arsenal would later complete their ‘Invincibles’ season.
September 2006: Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal
With their Invincibles squad slowly breaking up, Arsenal were at the beginning of a rebuild when they headed to a resurgent Man United in September 2006.
Wenger opted for a five-man midfield and it worked a treat, as they sat back and frustrated the hosts, while dangerously countering at will.
They had chances too, with Gilberto missing a penalty and Emmanuel Adebayor heading against the post.
But late on, the Gunners won it, as Cesc Fabregas robbed Cristiano Ronaldo and threaded through a perfect pass for Adebayor to finish low past the keeper.
The Gunners had to wait 14 years for another Premier League win at the Theatre of Dreams.
August 2011: Man Utd 8-2 Arsenal
Look away Gunners fans, this one is ugly…
By 2011 Arsenal - and Wenger - had faded as a serious force, usurped by the likes of Man City and Chelsea.
When future Arsenal player Danny Welbeck put Man Utd 1-0 up in this early-season contest, the writing was on the wall.
Robin van Persie missed a penalty that would’ve drawn them level, and Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney made it 3-0 before Theo Walcott pulled one back at the end of the first half.
Things only got worse after that with Rooney securing a hat-trick, Young scoring a second and Nani and Ji-sung Park also all scoring to make it eight.
Van Persie did get on the scoresheet for Arsenal, but a late red card for Carl Jenkinson only compounded Arsenal’s misery.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
