10 best matches ever between Arsenal and Manchester United

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (R)“Football is all very well as a game for rough girls, but is hardly suitable for delicate boys.” – Oscar WildeArsenal and Manchester United have been rivals since the inception of Premier League despite the Gunners having a barren run till 1996. Arsene Wenger’s appointment at the North-London club changed the very dynamics of this rivalry. Sir Alex Ferguson’s all conquering United side finally got some real competition.This is a battle of men with courage who throw everything on the line for the crest on their jersey. It is an all out war! A war where nothing suffices except a victory. The rivalry was at its peak from 1997 to 2005, but the fixture still has that excitement factor which grips fans till date.Here are the 10 best fixtures which exuded that fierce intensity of the epic rivalry.

#10 Arsenal 2-2 Manchester United - 2003

A classic match was played at the Highbury as Arsenal and United played out a four goal humdinger with the title on the line.

Manchester United took the lead via Ruud van Nistelrooy, but a brisk Thierry Henry brace tilted the balance of the tie in Arsenal’s favour. United then restored parity via a late header from Ryan Giggs.

Both teams threw caution to the wind as they were dead focused on wrapping up the league in this game itself. The match saw the Gunners reduced to 10 men as Sol Campbell saw red for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solskajer.

This match was the symbolic representation of the rivalry during its peak, where there was no clear winner.

#9 2005 FA Cup final

Arsenal went on to win 2004-05 FA Cup final in the most dramatic fashion as they edged past United by winning the penalty shootout. Both the sides failed to break the deadlock for 120 minutes at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Manchester United dominated the game but could not convert their chances. This wastefulness in front of the goal cost them the FA Cup final. Such was the intensity that both sides were almost inseparable in the shootout as well. Paul Scholes missed from the spot for the then FA Cup holders as Wenger’s boys won the shootout 5-4.

This was the last piece of silverware for Arsene Wenger until Arsenal won the FA Cup again in 2014 after 9 seasons without a trophy.

#8 Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal - 2004

The ‘Invincibles’ finally tasted their first defeat after 49 games as they lost to their nemesis at the Theatre of Dreams. A goal each from Ruud van Nistelrooy, who salvaged his pride after scoring a penalty, and teenaged Wayne Rooney ended the longest unbeaten run in English football.

The game is also known as the ‘Battle of Buffet’ as the tempers flared post match in dressing room when Cesc Fabregas allegedly threw a slice of pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson. Along with this there was a brawl brewing up both on and off the pitch as Sol Campbell refused to shake Rooney’s hand after the game.

This match was quintessentially an Arsenal-United game where the rivalry stretched beyond the Old Trafford pitch.

#7 Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United - 2001

Arsenal capitalized on their chances as they thrashed defending champions Manchester United 3-1 at Highbury.

United had first taken the lead thanks to a goal from Paul Scholes. But Arsenal completely outclassed a lacklustre United side as they came from a goal down to thump their illustrious visitors. Fabien Barthez’s catastrophic goal keeping helped Arsenal’s cause. but nothing can be taken away from the Gunners who just blewbrushed aside Fergie’s boys on that day.

A Thierry Henry brace sealed the match and league for Wenger’s boys.

#6 Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United - 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo tormented a hopeful Arsenal side in semi-finals of UEFA Champions League with a brace in the return leg at the Emirates.

Arsenal were decimated by the sheer pace on the counter-attack that was displayed by the Manchester United’s troika of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ji-Sung Park and Wayne Rooney. The third goal scored by United was a perfect counter-attacking goal as the Red Devils simply blew the Arsenal defence away by scoring a goal in just 30 seconds!

Arsenal lost the tie 4-1 on aggregate as Manchester United romped to their second consecutive Champions League final, only to be defeated by a great Barcelona side.

#5 Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United - 1999

The FA Cup always had a charm of its own and the competition just got even more glossy when it had United and Arsenal clashing in a semi-final. The year was 1999 and Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United was chasing a historic treble. They faced their arch rivals in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park.

The game was locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time and it seemed like Arsenal would get past a tired and jaded United side who were competing on three fronts. But a lad named Ryan Giggs had some other plans as he scored what is by far the best goal in FA Cup’s 134 year old history. The goal also marked a very uncanny celebration from the Welshman. After all, it’s not every day you see Ryan Giggs removing his jersey in jubilation.

A spectacular run from Welsh wizard bamboozled the Gunners defence as he thumped the ball past a hapless David Seaman. On that day, a legend was born on the feisty pitch of Villa Park.

Ryan Giggs’ goal

#4 Manchester United 6-1 Arsenal - 2001

Manchester United gave Arsene Wenger’s side a beating of a lifetime. A whirlwind of a first half gave Gunners no chance to get back into the game as Dwight York’s hat-trick sealed the tie for the home team with the score-line at half-time reading 5-1. Teddy Sheringham added a sixth later on in the second half to complete the rout.

The breathtaking pace and the precision in front of goal was so good that “marvellous” is an understatement. This defeat killed Arsenal’s title aspirations as United stormed into a 16 point lead at the top.

This was the heaviest defeat Arsene Wenger had suffered as a manager until the 8-2 hammering by the same opposition at the same venue.

#3 Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United - 1997

Arsenal did a double over Manchester United in 1997. They won 1-0 at Old Trafford which was a classic in its own right but this reverse fixture at Highbury was a five goal thriller.

Four goals were scored in the first half as Manchester United drew level after going two goals down inside 30 minutes. Nicolas Anelka and Patrick Vieira gave the hosts a comfortable two goal lead, but that lead was cancelled out by a Teddy Sheringham brace.

David Platt finally sealed the ill-tempered tie with a winner in 83rd minute. Highbury may have witnessed many classics in its days, but none as pulsating as this match.

#2 Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal - 1998

This is the match which defined Arsenal’s fortunes in Arsene Wenger’s debut season. A Marc Overmars goal sealed the deal for the Gunners, who rallied on post this famous win at Old Trafford to win a domestic double.

Arsene Wenger announced that Manchester United can’t rest on their laurels. This is the match which brought that ferocity and spark to the rivalry. Arsenal’s solid defensive display coupled with midfield domination just did the Red Devils in that night.

The Theatre of Dreams lived up to its name that night for the visitors.

#1 Arsenal 2-4 Manchester United - 2005

John OShea scored the winner which eventually clinched the tie for the Red Devils.

Arsenals Invincible were slowly reaching their climax as all the key figures of that side were slowly reaching their twilight years. This game in particular is considered to be one of those last matches where United-Arsenal rivalry was the biggest rivalry in English football.

Roy Keane and Patrick Vieiras tunnel bust up followed by Arsenals complete annihilation at Highbury by Paul Scholes and a resurgent Roy Keane, who himself was having a shambles of a season. The passion and rivalry was waning with the influx of younger generation in both the teams. This match marked the beginning of Cesc Fabregas and Cristiano Ronaldos era in Premier League.

The scoreline may suggest a comfortable win for United but it was anything but that. It is an all-time classic game which will always symbolize everything for which the rivalry stood for.