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ARSENAL V MAN UTD – CLASSIC MATCHES
Arsenal v Man United – Classic Matches
Arsenal against Manchester United has staged some of the most titanic battles of the modern era, with duals on and off the pitch. Fergie v Wenger, Schmeichel v Wright, van Nistelrooy against…everyone, and who can forget Vieira against Keane. They may not have contested the title as much recently like they have done in the past, but this season, both clubs are mounting an early assault on the crown they are longing to re-capture. It’s this Sunday’s headline fixture, here’s hoping we get another classic to add to these 5 from days gone by.
Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd – 9th of November 1997
In his first full season at Arsenal, Wenger showed his faith in French teenage striker Anelka, and the faith was repaid after just 9 first half minutes, his right footed strike made it 1 nil. 20 minutes later, Vieira smashed in a loose ball from a corner on the edge of the area taking Schmeichel by surprise and doubling the home sides lead. Highbury was buzzing, but not for long. Sheringham scored a quickfire brace before half-time silencing the home crowd. 2nd half home pressure eventually prevailed, David Platt making what was probably his most important contribution in an Arsenal shirt, rose at a corner to head an unstoppable arrow above Neville on the far post.
Arsenal 1-2 Man Utd – 22nd of August 1999
Treble holders United came to Highbury full of confidence, despite their recent couple of defeats in this fixture. The Keane and Vieira rivalry was also now in full flow, it provided compelling viewing every time they met. Keeping up his habit of scoring against The Red Devils, flame haired Swede Ljungberg put The Arsenal in-front going into half-time. After scrapping throughout with his French rival Vieira, Irishman Keane would come out on top. He levelled the match after linking with Cole, before stroking the ball past stand in Arsenal goalie Manninger. Keane doubled his tally after a ricochet put him one on one in the area with Manninger, calmly slotting in for a sweet victory.
Arsenal 2-2 Man Utd – 16th of April 2003
The latest thorn in Arsenal’s side was Dutch hitman van Nistelrooy, he struck on 23 minutes with a superb solo effort, taking United into a 1-0 half time lead. With Vieira off through first half injury, Arsenal looked to their other influential Frenchman Henry to get them back on track. A deflected equaliser and a slightly fortuitously deemed onside goal put Arsenal into a 2-1 lead with half hour to play. The lead lasted less than a minute. A sweeping counter attack from Fergie’s men ended with a clinical Giggs header at the Clock End. Sol Campbell was sent off late on for an elbow on Solskjaer, but the score remained 2 a piece at the end of another thrilling encounter.
Arsenal 2-4 Man Utd – 1st of February 2005
With Chelsea and Mourinho now firmly on ‘United and Arsenal’s patch’ in terms of title challenging, this was probably the game that saw an end of an era in some respects. Boiling point had already been reached before they stepped onto the pitch, Keane was foaming with Vieira over his confrontation with team mate Neville. When they eventually did step out, Vieira struck first blood with an 8th minute header. Giggs levelled on 18, before veteran Bergkamp restored a 2-1 Arsenal lead just past the half hour mark. The second half was a different story. 2 goals from young Portugese forward Ronaldo on 54 and 58 stuck United infront, before a sublime O’Shea chip in the final minute put the last nail in the coffin for Arsenal.
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd – 21st of January 2007
With Highbury, Vieira, Keane and Bergkamp now just a distant memory, The Emirates Stadium was now the new home for the 200th meeting of these rivals. And the new era was now all about Ronaldo, Fabregas, van Persie and Rooney. The visitors, chasing their first league title in 2 seasons, were 6 points clear going into this one, and it looked as if that lead was going to increase further when Rooney’s header put them 1 up after 53 minutes. But a late rally from the home side would overturn the deficit, starting with inform Dutchman van Persie’s 83rd minute leveller. It would be down to club captain Henry to grab the win. In what would be his last season at the club, the striker rose sublimely to head in Eboue’s whipped cross after 90 minutes play.
