Due to rich history and traditions, the rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal is a notable one in English Football. Before Sir Alex Ferguson retired, the rivalry between him and Arsene Wenger turned this fixture even more intense as there was always guaranteed drama and entertainment.
However, ever since Arsenal’s unbeaten run was ended by Manchester United in 2004, the Gunners don’t have the greatest record, having won only once at the Theatre of Dreams in the Premier league.
There have also been some terrible results and performances. Let’s look at some of the horrendous results for the Gunners at Old Trafford
#5 Manchester United 3 Arsenal 2, 28 February 2016
Although Marcus Rashford scored two goals on his senior debut against Midtjylland, hardly anyone outside Old Trafford had heard of his name in prior to this game. The poor Arsenal side capitulated to the 18-year-old and suddenly he became the major talking point for football fans around the country. He scored twice in the first half before providing an assist for the decisive third goal from Ander Herrera.
His debut heroics not only changed his life dramatically but also damaged Arsene Wenger’s hopes of winning the first league title since 2004.
This fixture proved to be Arsenal’s best chance to beat United as they probably faced the weakest Manchester United side since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. However, the youthful side put an exceptional performance and came out with a stunning win.
After the match, Arsene Wenger refused to accept that United’s unfamiliar faces made the loss even more disappointing “Let’s not go overboard. They had still a few millions on the pitch from David De Gea to the midfield,” said Wenger.
#4 United 2 Arsenal 0, 24 October 2004
After a record 49 matches without a defeat, Arsene Wenger took his troops north to Old Trafford for the 10th game of the 2004/05 Premier league campaign.
This fixture was deemed as the Battle of Old Trafford II by many experts and pundits in reference to the events of the previous season when several Arsenal players reacted aggressively to Van Nistelrooy's late penalty miss.
(Video Courtesy: Manchester Red YouTube Channel)
The match started off in a ferocious manner with many full blooded fouls and clumsy challenges all over the pitch. During the 90 minutes of intense footballing action, Ruud Van Nistelrooy converted a penalty kick, while Wayne Rooney also scored his first league goal for Manchester United on his 19th birthday. Tears were shed in the away end as the result ended Arsenal’s record-breaking 49-match unbeaten run.
#3 United 4 Arsenal 0 FA Cup 16 February 2008
Before this fifth round FA Cup tie, Arsene Wenger had said that his injury-plagued Arsenal side were “down to the bare bones”. The team without key players like Tomas Rosicky, Robin Van Persie, Theo Walcott and Bacary Sagna travelled to Manchester with the expectation of at least salvaging a draw.
However, United made a blistering start as Anderson’s flicked ball found Rooney and the English striker headed it beyond Jenns Lehmann to open the account.
(Video Courtesy: FMU FORUM YouTube Channel)
Four minutes later, Nani’s wonderful cross from the left flank was finished by Darren Fletcher to put United 2-0. As the first half came to the close, Michael Carrick’s pinpoint cross was controlled and calmly finished by Nani.
In the second half, the weakened Arsenal team looked lethargic and out of sorts. And with 16 minutes left, United scored the fourth goal as Nani’s cross was headed by Darren Fletcher to the far post. The Red Devils looked even more menacing in the closing stages of the game but thankfully for Arsenal fans Alan Wiley blew the final whistle.
#2 Manchester United 6 Arsenal 1, 25 February 2001
Before the match kicked off, Arsenal were United’s nearest title challengers and the Arsenal fans expected an intriguing battle at the packed Old Trafford. However, Arsene Wenger’s tactics drove the fans mad as the Frenchman opted for an attacking strategy without key defenders like Tony Adams and Martin Keown.
Dwight Yorke was the star of the day as he exposed the Arsenal defence and scored an enthralling hat-trick within 22 minutes.
(Video Courtesy: GugaTV YouTube Channel)
Apart from Yorke’s hat-trick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Roy Keane and Teddy Sheringham also scored. The match ended in an emphatic scoreline of 6-1 and the win sent United 16 points clear of Arsenal. Moreover, that was the first time in the Premier League that the title race was decided more or less by the end of February.
#1 Manchester United 8 Arsenal 2, 28 August 2011
This was a game that Arsenal fans and Arsene Wenger would love to forget while United fans would gloat about for years to come. In front of more than 74,000 fans, the most determined Manchester United team containing Rooney, Nani, and Young, ripped apart a depleted Arsenal side with one of the most famous scorelines in the club’s storied history.
The game was the first time since 1896 (beaten 8-0 by Loughborough) that the Gunners let in 8 goals in a match. Wayne Rooney was the main man behind an absolute mauling as he registered his sixth hat-trick of his Old Trafford career.
(Video Courtesy: YouTube Channel)
The Arsenal directors, who witnessed the match from the Old Trafford directors box, disappeared long before referee Howard Webb brought an end to one of the most one-sided battles in Premier league history. It has been a long wait for the Gunners to get some revenge from that embarrassing 8-2 defeat, and this weekend gives them an opportunity to right that wrong when they visit Old Trafford on Saturday.
