Arsenal vs Man Utd: More than just a rivalry
The Gunners and the Red Devils were the pre-eminent forces in English football in the late 90s and early 00s. This is always a blue-chip fixture in any EPL season, regardless of their respective league positions, but in 2022/23 both are in the title mix. That adds a significant dose of extra spice.
A quick walk down memory lane reminds us of the richness of this rivalry. The mere mention of “Arsenal vs United” conjures up so many vivid sights and sounds, so we’ve picked out 4 classic clashes that will forever be part of Premier League folklore.
Then, we’ll fast-forward to the present day and discuss what we can expect from these English juggernauts on Sunday.
Arsenal vs Man Utd: Classic EPL Clashes
Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal (May 2002)
Wiltord wins Arsenal the league at Old Trafford
It wasn’t the prettiest goal ever, but it was one of the most important in Arsenal’s history. Under Arsène Wenger’s reign, the Gunners cruised to a league and cup double in 2001/02, winning the Premier League with 87 points ahead of second-placed Liverpool and defeating Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
Included in Arsenal’s starting XI at Old Trafford in this 2002 EPL meeting were Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu (a cult favourite among Arsenal fans), Cameroon’s Lauren (an indomitable right-back) and Arsenal’s current sporting director, Edu. This was an excellent Arsenal side that always meant business, and played some sumptuous football under a pioneering manager.
It’s always extra special to clinch the title on enemy turf and the Gunners clearly relished doing so at Old Trafford. Freddie Ljungberg’s shot was parried by the unmistakable Fabien Barthez into the path of Sylvain Wiltord to tap home. A moment to cherish for Gooners around the globe.
Man Utd 0-0 Arsenal (September 2003)
A simmering rivalry boils over
There were some unsavoury scenes at the final whistle as 10-man Arsenal preserved what would prove to be a historic unbeaten run despite facing a stoppage-time Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty. Eccentric Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann went the wrong way but the United striker whacked his spot-kick off the underside of the crossbar, it cannoned down and Arsenal hacked it clear to safety.
Van Nistelrooy was involved in Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira’s controversial dismissal in the 80th minute and he was surrounded by angry Gunners stars both after his failed penalty and at the final whistle. Images of main antagonists Martin Keown, Lauren and Ashley Cole taunting van Nistelrooy and jumping on his back will be etched into the Dutchman’s memory forever.
Vieira would say afterwards: "I'm really angry with Van Nistelrooy. He tried to stamp on me and then he made more of the challenge than he should have done. He cheated.”
The FA threw the book and a hefty fine at Arsenal but they had taken a point away from home against the odds and remained undefeated. This battle was a reminder of the intensity of English football and how its 2 best teams at the time would do anything for the cause. Arsenal were crowned champions 8 months later after going through an entire EPL season without defeat.
Man Utd 2-0 Arsenal (October 2004)
Wenger’s boys bowled out for 49 in “Battle of the Buffet”
Gunners fans are still sore about it. United legend Wayne Rooney appeared to go down easily under a challenge from his England teammate Sol Campbell and the referee awarded a penalty that van Nistelrooy emphatically slotted home in the 73th minute. A cathartic moment after he had failed from the spot 13 months earlier, but he put those demons to rest in the best possible way. Rooney drove the final nail into Arsenal’s coffin on his 19th birthday, in the 90th minute, sweeping home after a swift counter. The Invincibles had finally been beaten.
As with many of these tetchy head-to-heads, the drama wasn’t limited to the green grass of Old Trafford. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson finished that afternoon with pizza on his suit. Conspiracy theories did the rounds as to who threw it, and it turned out to be little Cesc Fàbregas, just 17 years old at the time. Fàbregas is the second-most prolific assist-maker in EPL history with 111, and he also created Andrés Iniesta’s WC10 final winner. Not a bad career, all in all. Perhaps “Pizzagate” was the football world’s first glimpse at his BIG personality.
As for the pizza-throwing incident, Wenger insists that he didn’t see it. What he did see, however, was his team getting outfought at the Theatre of Dreams on a nightmarish afternoon.
Arsenal 2-4 Man Utd (February 2005)
Ronaldo scores the first of many against an arch-rival
If 2004 was a battle, this was war. A 19-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo scored a double on an ill-tempered and bitterly cold London evening in 2005, when most of the drama took place pre-game in Highbury’s crowded tunnel and respective captains Vieira and Roy Keane almost came to blows. Who really even knows what the fight was about? It appeared that Keane was defending one of his smaller teammates when the Irish skipper told Vieira to “pick on somebody his own size.”
When the actual football match started, there was electricity in the air and a whole lot of bad blood. United twice came from behind before taking control to stun their hosts. Vieira opened the scoring, Ryan Giggs levelled matters, Dennis Bergkamp put Arsenal in front again, Ronaldo equalised and then put his side in front for the first time on the night. Utility defender John O’Shea, of all people, settled a spiteful football match with a delightful chip in front of a shocked Highbury.
This was a genuine classic, and there were some massive names to aptly decorate the occasion. Neither side would win the EPL that year though, as Chelsea romped to the title with 95 points under new owner Roman Abramovich. Arsenal and United had to settle for 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Recent meetings
Back to the present day, and Arsenal hold the slight edge in the last 6 EPL head-to-heads, winning 3 to United’s 2, with 1 draw in January 2021. The home side have won each of the last 3 meetings, and 4 of the last 6. In fact, the hosts on the day have notched exactly 3 goals in each of the 3 most recent Premier League H2Hs.
Form guide
Both Arsenal and Man Utd can now be labelled genuine title contenders in 2022/23. Arsenal have made their best ever start to an English top-flight campaign with 47 points from 18 games and they’ve only dropped points in 3 matches all season. United shrugged off an iffy start to life under Erik ten Hag to find their form. Prior to their midweek draw at Crystal Palace, they had won 9 matches on the bounce across all competitions, their longest winning streak since 2016/17 under José Mourinho.
Players to watch
Arsenal’s 1 EPL defeat this season came in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford in September 2022, with Marcus Rashford scoring a brace and supplying the assist for BIG-money signing Antony’s first goal in English football. Last weekend’s Manchester Derby winner marked the 7th game running Rashford had scored in, the first Man Utd player to do so since Ronaldo in 2008. Reigning EPL player of the month, Arsenal skipper Martin Ødegaard, has 8 goals and 5 assists in the league this season, which includes 4 goals and 3 assists in his last 5 outings.
Team news
Both sides are likely to have wanted to stick with what worked for them in their respective derby victories last weekend. However, Man Utd must now do without Casemiro, who is suspended after receiving his fifth booking of the season late on in Wednesday’s draw at Crystal Palace.
The latest edition of Arsenal vs Man Utd is arguably the most eagerly anticipated in many years. They may not love each other, but there is most certainly a whole lot of mutual respect in the air. In 2023, 2 of English football’s BIGGEST teams are looking to climb back onto their perch at the very top, where both feel they belong.