Man Utd vs Arsenal – Flashbacks

By: Wayne Farry | May 14th, 2009

In the run up to United’s game against Arsenal this coming Saturday (after which we should be holding the EPL title for the third season in a row) I’ve decided that before a preview is written you should put your feet up, sit back, have a warm drink and reminisce over some of our greatest moments against Arsenal in the Premier League era.

1. Manchester United 2 – 1 Arsenal (FA Cup Semi-Final Replay 1998/99)
Where else to start but probably our most famous of meetings againts the Gooners in recent times. United took the lead through David Beckham, only for Dennis Bergkamp to equalize, Roy Keane got sent off and Peter Schmiechel saved an extra-time penalty before Giggs scored that goal.

2. Manchester United 4 – 0 Arsenal (FA Cup Fifth Round 2007/08)
Another great match, but much more one-sided and against a much worse Arsenal side than the 1998/99 tie. United demolished Arsenal at OT in a game that brought Arsenal to their knees and began the downturn for which their 07/08 campaign is remembered.

3. Manchester United 2 – 0 Arsenal (Premier League 2004/05)
In the end it turned out to be a highlight of a poor season for us, although after this game, it looked very, very positive. It was the season after their ‘Invincibles’ campaign and Arsenal had started the season in barnstorming fashion. They looked odds-on favourites to retain their title but once again, a defeat at Old Trafford ended their forty nine game unbeaten run and sent the Gooners off the rails, as Chelsea went on to win the title easily.

4. Arsenal 2 – 4 Manchester United (Premier League 2004/05)
Another great match from the 2004/05 EPL season as United went to Highbury and beat Arsenal convincingly. To be fair it was close for a while before John O’Shea showed his true colours and destroyed Arsenal. Also features the now infamous tunnel bust-up between Keano and Vieira at the start and Gary Neville’s attempt to break Vieira’s hand during the customary handshake. (Also, check out O’Shea’s face after he scores the fourth goal. I don’t quite know what to make of it but I believe it’s a cross between shock and cockiness.)

5. Manchester United 6 – 1 Arsenal (Premier League 2000/01)
This game is probably my favourite out of these five. I remember sitting in my living room as a twelve year old and revelling at what I saw before me. Never before had I seen my team ramshackle Arsenal so badly. A hat-trick from Dwight Yorke and goals from Teddy Sheringham, Old Gunnar Solskjaer and Keano were enough to rip apart Arsenal, who scored through a cracking Terry Henry effort.

So, hope you enjoyed a trip through selective memory lane. Above are some great moments from United-Arsenal history and hopefully the current bunch of Red Devils can go out and create some memories this Saturday.