Arsenal v Manchester United: Classic Matches

Two of the biggest clubs in English football, and the two biggest clubs in first decade of the Premier League era, Arsenal and Manchester United have partaken in a number of unforgettable clashes.

Of course, the drama off the pitch was often as encapsulating as the drama on it, from verbal jousting in press conferences to more physical jousting in tunnels.

Below, we look back at some of the most memorable meetings between the two teams.

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Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd - 9 November 1997

Arsene Wenger's first full season in charge would see Arsenal crowned champions, with their win at Highbury over the reigning champions being a huge step towards that.

The young Nicolas Anelka opened the scoring with a low drive before Patrick Vieira doubled Arsenal's lead, curling an effort beyond Peter Schmeichel. Teddy Sheringham closed the gap with a header, equalising before the interval.

But with United nearing a hard-earned point, David Platt connected with a header that nestled into the far corner.

Man Utd 6-1 Arsenal - 25 February 2001

In his autobiography, Ray Parlour recounts an amusing story of a trialist - Igors Stepanovs - getting a contract at Arsenal seemingly as the result of Parlour and his team-mates trying to wind fellow centre-back Martin Keown up.

In the midst of a minor injury crisis, Arsenal went to Old Trafford without Tony Adams, Lee Dixon or Martin Keown, with Stepanovs making just his eighth Premier League start.

United took an early lead through Dwight Yorke but Arsenal equalised through Thierry Henry. Any suggestion this might be a close encounter was quickly quashed with Yorke retaking the lead for United minutes later, and completing his hat-trick after just 22 minutes. United were 4-1 up through Roy Keane inside half an hour, making it five before the break through Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Substitute Teddy Sheringham came off the bench and would make it six in the dying stages, with United going on to record a third successive title.

Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal - 8 May 2002

A year after the humiliating 6-1 defeat at Old Trafford, Arsenal had the opportunity to get the ultimate revenge on their rivals.

Manchester United's dismal run of form in the autumn that saw them pick up just four points from seven games - leaving the Red Devils as low as ninth in the table by mid-December - combined with Arsenal's superb run after Christmas meant the Gunners could wrap up the title at Old Trafford by avoiding defeat.

Arsene Wenger's side would go one better when Freddie Ljungberg's effort was pushed out by Fabien Barthez, but only as far as Sylvain Wiltord, who scored the game's only goal to seal the title.

Fantastique.

Man Utd 2-0 Arsenal - 24 October 2004

The rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal was in its dying days by the mid-2000s, not that anyone would've known that when the two sides met at the start of the 2003/04 season. A missed penalty from Ruud van Nistelrooy early in the Gunners' 'invincible' season was followed by Arsenal players mobbing the forward resulting several being charged by the FA with the game later known as the 'Battle of Old Trafford'.

Fast forward a year and Manchester United seem to be going backwards with Arsenal looking to extend their unbeaten run to 50 games. A raucous atmosphere at Old Trafford, a controversial penalty (converted this time by Van Nistelrooy, experiencing his own personal redemption) and a late goal by birthday boy Wayne Rooney wrapped up the three points as Arsenal's unbeaten run came to an unceremonious end.

Tempers boiled over in the tunnel afterwards with punches being thrown from both sides. A slice of pizza hitting Sir Alex Ferguson in the face would later see the game dubbed the 'Battle of the Buffet' and 'Pizzagate'.

Arsenal 2-4 Man Utd - 1 February 2005

By February 2005, these two behemoths of the English game were miles behind champions-elect Chelsea, closing in on a first Premier League. Nevertheless, the bad feeling from the reverse fixture lingered, with more drama in the tunnel.

This time, however, the verbal sparring in the tunnel was before the game, with captain Roy Keane telling opposite number Patrick Vieira 'I'll see you out there' after the Arsenal skipper had been involved in an altercation with Gary Neville.

Sure enough, Vieira would give Arsenal an early lead before Ryan Giggs hit back. Dennis Bergkamp restored Arsenal's advantage before a quick-fire double from Cristiano Ronaldo in the second half put United's noses in front. Mikael Silvestre was sent off before substitute John O'Shea found himself in acres of space through on goal, lobbing the onrushing Manuel Almunia to seal a memorable win.

Man Utd 8-2 Arsenal - 28 August 2011

A game that simply had to be seen to be believed. A game you'd always remember where you were when you watched it and a game that will never be repeated.

There's no denying Arsenal were severely impacted by injuries, starting with a back four that read Jenkinson, Djourou, Koscielny and Traore, and if you'd have told the travelling fans before the game that they'd score twice they'd likely have been delighted, but what unfolded turned into a horror show.

United took the lead through Danny Welbeck with David de Gea denying Robin van Persie from the spot. Ashley Young would double the hosts' lead shortly after with Wayne Rooney making it three.

Theo Walcott handed the Gunners a lifeline in first-half stoppage time, but in little over five minutes, United scored three more through Rooney, Nani and Park Ji-sung to make it 6-1.

Van Persie made amends for his earlier penalty miss with a consolation, but United would add two more before all was said and done, capping off a game Wenger could only describe as 'humiliating'.

Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd - 22 January 2023

Manchester United's dramatic win over Manchester City just a week prior had fans believing they actually could launch a title charge. After 18 games, the Red Devils were a point behind their inter-city rivals, but were still six points behind Arsenal, who had started the season superbly and still had a game in hand.

United took the lead through the in-form Marcus Rashford, with Eddie Nketiah levelling. With Arsenal in the ascendency after the break, Bukayo Saka gave the Gunners the lead, with Lisandro Martinez heading home an equaliser.

But with the hosts pushing for a winner and the visitors clinging on, Oleksandr Zinchenko's cross was deflected into the path of Nketiah who scored from close range in the 90th minute to send Arsenal fans wild.

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