May 12th, 1979,Arsenal 3 Manchester United 2, (FA Cup final, Wembley)
OFTEN referred to as the “five-minute final” due to the action-packed end to the game. Arsenal had taken a 2-0 lead before half-time thanks to goals from Brian Talbot and Frank Stapleton as Liam Brady ran rings around the Manchester United defence. However, United stunned the Gunners with goals from Gordon McQueen and Sammy McIlroy in the final five minutes. Just as a replay beckoned, Brady capped a wonderful performance by breaking down the left and crossing for Alan Sunderland to score a dramatic winner.
October 20th, 1990
Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1
(First Division)
ANDERS Limpar’s goal won it for the eventual champions, but the game will be remembered for a 21-man brawl sparked by Nigel Winterburn’s lunge on Denis Irwin. The huge fight that broke out led to Arsenal being docked two points and United one, and this match is often cited as the start of the bitter rivalry between the clubs that has marked the Premier League era.
April 14th, 1999
Arsenal 1 Manchester United 2 (aet)
(FA Cup semi-final replay, Villa Park)
One of the more memorable moments in United’s march to the treble. After Patrick Vieira had cancelled out David Beckham’s opener, a thrilling game went to extra-time before eventually being won by Ryan Giggs’ stunning solo goal when he danced past Vieira, Lee Dixon, Martin Keown and Tony Adams to fire into the roof of David Seaman’s net.
May 8th, 2002
Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1
(Premier League)
SYLVAIN Wiltord etched his name into Arsenal history at Old Trafford as his goal sealed the Premier League title in their double-winning season. Arsenal reeled off 13 straight wins to end the season, but there was no more satisfying way to clinch the title.
October 22nd, 2003
Manchester United 0 Arsenal 0
(Premier League)
WHILE not the on same scale as the mass brawl 13 years previously, this match was marred by ugly scenes as Arsenal players celebrated a late Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty miss by jumping into and pushing the Dutch striker. Martin Keown was banned for three games, Lauren for four, and Ray Parlour and Patrick Vieira one each, with Ashley Cole fined. Nevertheless, Van Nistelrooy’s penalty miss was critical as Arsenal completed the season unbeaten to clinch the title.
October 24th, 2004
Manchester United 2 Arsenal 0
(Premier League)
THAT unbeaten Arsenal run lasted until October of the following season, but came to end in controversial circumstances at Old Trafford in a game that will forever be known as “Pizzagate”. Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane had already faced off in the tunnel before kick off, and tempers did not calm all afternoon. A Wayne Rooney strike and a controversial Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty settled it, but the battle then moved to the dressing rooms as food was thrown in a series of bizarre battles between the two camps.
