Top 10 iconic Manchester United games of the decade (2010-2019)

#2 Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal – Premier League, 28th August 2011

August 2011 saw a remarkable scoreline as United thumped old rivals Arsenal 8-2

United’s rivalry with Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal had defined English football in the late 90’s and then the first half of the 2000’s, with a handful of their matches – including the ones christened ‘The Battle of Old Trafford’ and ‘The Battle of the Buffet’ going down in Premier League legend. But by the early 2010’s, the Red Devils had thoroughly surpassed their London rivals, and this match proved it more than any other.

Admittedly, Wenger’s side was a makeshift one due to injuries, featuring unheralded players like Carl Jenkinson, Armand Traore and Nico Yennaris in defence, but it was still shocking to see them completely mauled by Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Strangely enough, it took United until 22 minutes to open the scoring, when Danny Welbeck found the net. Moments later, United keeper David De Gea prevented an equaliser by saving a penalty from Robin Van Persie, but when half-time came with United 3-1 up – Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney adding their second and third goals, with Theo Walcott scoring for the Gunners – nobody expected what happened next.

United simply dismantled their old rivals in the second half, adding a further 5 goals; Rooney completed his hat-trick and Young his brace, with Nani and Ji Sung Park scoring the other 2. Van Persie’s 74th minute strike was barely even a consolation, and to make matters even worse, Jenkinson was shown a red card.

The game turned out to be Arsenal’s heaviest defeat since 1896 – and nearly a decade on, it’s a result which still stings for Gunners fans.