Forget Chelsea, Liverpool or Alan flipping Shearer - it is the Arsenal versus Manchester United rivalry that has kept Richard Keys in garish ties and hand waxing kits for a decade and a half.

We look back at the highlights of English football's most combustible fixture from the modern era.

October 1990 - Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal - First Division

The match that provided the spark for the clubs' modern-day antipathy. A reckless Nigel Winterburn tackle on Brian McClair sparked pandemonium as 21 players piled in for a ruck - David Seaman the lone pacifist. The Gunners were docked two points and United one and the result was rendered all but irrelevant by its consequences. Arsenal still won the league at a canter, losing just once.

August 1998 - Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United - Charity Shield

This Charity Shield encounter proved a baptism of fire for United defender Jaap Stam. The Dutchman was described as looking like "Bambi on roller skates" and was ripped to shreds as speedsters Marc Overmars, Christopher Wreh and Nicolas Anelka gave the Gunners an emphatic victory.

April 1999 - Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal AET - FA Cup semi-final replay

Probably the best game these teams have played. Roy Keane was sent off on 74 minutes and it looked like the balance was tipping Arsenal's way when they won a late penalty - only for Peter Schmeichel to deny Dennis Bergkamp. Ryan Giggs eventually won it with an outrageous solo effort before unleashing an even more remarkable bare-chested celebration. United went on to win the treble.

February 2001 - Manchester United 6-1 Arsenal - Premiership

It was all so easy for United as they all but sealed their third title in a row, opening up a 16-point lead with a devastating performance. Arsenal's blundering defensive duo of Gilles Grimandi and Igors Stepanovs allowed Dwight Yorke to complete a hat-trick within 25 minutes before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Roy Keane and Teddy Sheringham completed the rout.

November 2001 - Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United - Premiership

Fabien Barthez's supporters would say it is unfair to say he always had an error in him. And on this occasion they would be right - he had two. The bald-headed buffoon twice presented the ball to countryman Thierry Henry, who duly helped turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 win. It was a springboard for Arsenal to depose the champions.

May 2002 - Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal - Premiership

Sir Alex Ferguson's public feud with Arsene Wenger was at its most poisonous during the 2001/02 season, making this game perhaps the lowest point of Ferguson's tenure at United. Arsenal came to Old Trafford knowing they could clinch the title in the enemy's back yard with a win and did just that courtesy of a Sylvain Wiltord goal.

December 2002 - Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal - Premiership

Another match that altered English football's balance of power. Arsenal came into the match having scored in each of their last 54 games and looking unstoppable. Goals from Juan Sebastian Veron and Paul Scholes did the damage while Philip Neville somehow outbattled Patrick Vieira in midfield. It ended up United's season.

September 2003 - Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal - Premiership

A stunning throwback to the 1990 donnybrook as all hell broke loose at the end of this stalemate. Patrick Vieira had been sent off for a 'kick' at Ruud van Nistelrooy, who then hit the crossbar with a last-minute penalty. Martin Keown, Lauren, Ray Parlour and Vieira all picked up bans but Van Nistelrooy's miss allowed Wenger's 'immortals' to mount their unbeaten campaign.

October 2004 - Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal - Premiership

Arsenal were knocked from their pedestal amid controversy and flying pizzas. Unbeaten in 49 games, the travelling fans turned up with t-shirts reading '50 not out'. Their hubris did not go unpunished. Wayne Rooney won a dodgy penalty, despatched in redemptive fashion by Van Nistelrooy before Rooney slotted a second. A post-match fracas in the tunnel saw Ferguson's suit ruined in a food fight.

May 2005 - Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United (Arsenal won on pens) - FA Cup final

The only crime on display at Wembley was daylight robbery as the Gunners somehow lifted the trophy after being outclassed for 120 minutes. Jens Lehmann produced a clutch of top saves and Freddie Ljungberg a brilliant goal-line clearance. United's profligacy was punished as Paul Scholes missed the decisive penalty and the great Patrick Vieira won the Cup with his final kick for Arsenal.

January 2007 - Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United - Premiership

This was another fond farewell as Thierry Henry marked his last Arsenal appearance against United with that rarest of things - a headed winner. The Frenchman's goal left United shellshocked, as they had led until the 83rd minute. The Gunners completed a double over Ferguson's side, but could not prevent them from regaining the Premiership for the first time in four years.

Alex Chick / Eurosport