Infamous Five: Arsenal-United close encounters

Alex Ferguson's first league meeting with the Gunners emphasised the ill-feeling which would scar these contests down the years.

January 24th, 1987

Manchester Utd 2 Arsenal 0

Arsenal grew increasingly frustrated at the home side's physical approach to the game and when David Rocastle lashed out after one robust challenge, a skirmish erupted between the two dugouts involving staff from both clubs. At one stage pint-sized Terry Gibson even squared up to David O'Leary. Rocastle was sent off, Gibson scored his only United goal, with Gordon Strachan getting the other one as United overcame the hostilities to grab victory.

October 20th, 1990

Manchester Utd 0 Arsenal 1

Yet another meeting which made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Arsenal were steeling themselves for another title drive under George Graham but United were in no mood to give way. A set-to between Anders Limpar and Denis Irwin ignited a mass confrontation, with Nigel Winterburn and Brian McClair wading in, along with most of their team-mates. Both clubs were eventually fined £50,000 for the incident, with Arsenal having two points deducted and United one. It did not have too much effect on the Gunners though, Anders Limpar grabbing the only goal in an ultimately successful championship quest.

February 19th, 1997

Arsenal 1 Manchester Utd 2

The night an on-going feud between Ian Wright and Peter Schmeichel erupted. The Danish goalkeeper was left in agony when Wright appeared to stamp on his ankle as the pair closed in on a loose ball. Players from both sides jostled angrily as Schmeichel was attended to. He clearly didn't forget the incident because, at the final whistle, he raced to confront the volatile striker, who in turn had to be restrained by Arsenal backroom staff and members of the local police force to prevent a full-scale fight erupting. United won the game through first-half goals from Andy Cole and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with Dennis Bergkamp pulling one back for the home side.

February 15th, 2003

Manchester Utd 0 Arsenal 2

The day Alex Ferguson launched a stray boot into David Beckham's face. Ferguson had already been involved in a tetchy post-match exchange with Arsene Wenger after Arsenal advanced to the last eight of the FA Cup. Wenger accused United of trying to intimidate his team during the early stages, while Ferguson claimed the Arsenal players bullied referee Jeff Winter. Patrick Vieira came in for some vicious treatment and Ruud van Nistelrooy was fortunate not to get sent off for some wild lunges. Ryan Giggs somehow missed an glaring open goal before a deflected Edu free-kick and a second-half Sylvain Wiltord effort gave the visitors victory. What happened on the pitch though was nothing compared to what occurred afterwards as the impact of Fergie's fury was splashed all over the front pages of the tabloids.

September 21st, 2003

Manchester Utd 0 Arsenal 0

A relatively quiet affair erupted five minutes from time when Patrick Vieira lashed out at Ruud van Nistelrooy. TV replays showed there was no contact but referee Steve Bennett decided the intent was enough to warrant a red card. Vieira confronted the referee before eventually making his way off the field but the drama was not over. In the final minute, Martin Keown sent Diego Forlan crashing in the box, only for van Nistelrooy to balloon the last-minute penalty over. The Arsenal players, still seething at the Dutch striker's part in Vieira's departure surrounded van Nistelrooy amid ugly scenes that shamed the game and saw six players get FA charges.