#3 Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal (2003)
Video Courtesy: Youtube user – man of tech
Now, what can be so great about a game that ended a goal-less draw early on in the season? Well, pretty much all of the 90 minutes. The league match between Arsenal and Manchester United on 21 September 2003 would later be dubbed by the press as the ‘Battle of Old Trafford’. Arsenal had lost their title to United the previous season and were looking to get it back.
The match is memorable for the brawl that erupted after the final whistle. The whole match was a physical battle between the two teams with countless fouls and four yellow cards for either side. Patrick Vieira was sent off for aiming a kick at Ruud van Nistelrooy, which he backed away from but the French defender was booked for intent. Van Nistelrooy himself was shown a yellow for pushing Vieira to the ground in the first place.
A ten man Arsenal then went on to concede a penalty in the final gasps of the game. Jens Lehmann managed to spook Nistelrooy, who hit the woodwork followed by the final whistle. Matters didn’t end there. As soon as Nistelrooy missed, he was surrounded by Arsenal players pushing, shoving and shouting at him. Even though United captain Roy Keane led him away, their other teammates were not done.
Ryan Giggs, Quinton Fortune, Mikael Silvestre, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Cristiano Ronaldo got into a pushing fight with Arsenal’s Ashley Cole, Kolo Toure, Lauren,Ray Parlour and Martin Keown. That particular row didn’t just end that night. Players from both teams were charged by the FA and forced to pay fines.
This draw is especially significant for Arsenal as it helped them to win the Premier League that season after an unbeaten run.
