Premier League - Man Utd v Arsenal: classics

Eurosport - Fri, 28 Aug 13:08:00 2009

Arsenal will head to Manchester United on Saturday for the biggest Premier League match of the season so far. They have faced off in some league and cup classics over the years.

FOOTBALL 2002-2003 Premiership Manchester United Man United-Arsenal Martin Keown taunts Ruud van Nistelrooy after he misses a late penalty in a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford - 0

Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal: October 20, 1990 (First Division)

Anders Limpar's goal gave Arsenal the win at Old Trafford en route to the old First Division title, but the match is remembered more for the fighting than the football.

Arsenal were deducted two points and United one after a 21-man brawl that shocked the public and entertained fans for years to come.

Nigel Winterburn went in late on Dennis Irwin, Brian McLair lost his head, perhaps with a previous encounter with Winterburn in mind, and started kicking him, Limpar got involved and then everyone else bar David Seaman piled in.

With hindsight it is hilarious that no-one was sent off as nowadays merely stepping to a man is enough to warrant a straight red card.

The FA acted retrospectively but the incident set the scene for what was hitherto a non-rivalry - United had been too mediocre to matter for the previous 20 years.

Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United: November 9, 1997 (Premier League)

Arsenal became the second team to complete a second double of FA Cup and league wins and, in doing so, beat United in a five-goal thriller at Highbury.

Anelka opened the scoring for the Gunners, who went 2-0 up when Vieira scored a superb goal soon afterwards.

But United fought back to parity through a Teddy Sheringham double to set up a grandstand finish.

Midfielder David Platt did not disappoint, winning the match with a typical header on 83 minutes.

It was probably one of the most fully-rounded Arsenal-United clashes with crowd violence adding to the drama: a Tottenham legend, Sheringham wound-up the home fans after scoring while United keeper Schmeichel and Gunners left-back Winterburn were both hit by coins.

Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal (a.e.t): April 14, 1999, Villa Park (FA Cup semi-final replay)

You can be forgiven for allowing Ryan Giggs's wonder goal to detract from what was otherwise an exceptional match.

United took a first-half lead with a classy long-range strike from David Beckham in a game that ebbed and flowed until the Gunners equalised midway through the second half through a Denis Bergkamp shot that deflected off Jaap Stam and squirmed under the body of Peter Schmeichel.

It took on a whole new dimension when Roy Keane was sent off for a second yellow card and, with the introduction of Marc Overmars, Arsenal were all over United.

Nicolas Anelka had a goal disallowed for offside and United's dream of an unprecedented trophy haul seemed to have been ended when Phil Neville brought down Bergkamp to give away an injury-time penalty.

But the drama had only just begun. Schmeichel saved Bergkamp's spot-kick to force extra-time, during which Giggs ran from halfway, beat the entire Arsenal back-line and fired into the roof of the net to score an outrageous goal that ranks among the all-time greats.

United went on to beat Newcastle in the final and win a famous treble and Giggs was rewarded with the PFA award 10 years later.

Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal: May 8, 2002, Old Trafford (Premier League)

Arsenal clinched a famous double with a 1-0 win at main rivals Manchester United in a match that Gunners fans have since immortalised in a quite funny song.

Sylvain Wiltord has never been regarded as the greatest of players but he had a knack of scoring vital goals under pressure: two years previously he hit a stoppage-time equaliser in the Euro 2000 final against Italy that France went on to win.

He finished on 58 minutes after Fabien Barthez parried Freddie Ljungberg's shot as Arsenal won their last 13 matches that season to pull clear of United.

Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal: September 21, 2003 (Premier League)

Another clash of the titans in which football was secondary, this bore-draw was memorable for the deranged, simian scenes that saw players from both sides land in hot water.

Arsenal were furious with United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy after Patrick Vieira was sent off for aiming a swing at him.

Ironically for a player renowned for going to ground rather easily, the Dutchman stayed on his feet, but the Gunners felt that his reaction helped get Vieira dismissed and they took great pleasure when he missed a late penalty.

Let's call it 'Monkeygate', as Martin Keown's taunts stood out more than anything else.

One of football's nice guys off the pitch, the former England defender danced around Van Nistelrooy like a big yellow chimp, provoking Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo into a melee that also saw Ray Parlour, Ashley Cole, Lauren and - unsurprisingly - Jens Lehmann hauled in front of football's authorities.

Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal: October 24, 2004 (Premier League)

In an incident that will forever be known as 'Pizzagate', United and Van Nistelrooy got their revenge for Monkeygate with a 2-0 win thanks to a late Wayne Rooney goal and, appropriately, a controversial Van Nistelrooy penalty.

The match was a tense and angry affair but everything seemed in check until afterwards, when Arsenal - whose record, 49-match unbeaten run had come to an end - kicked off in the tunnel.

Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford looking like a struggling mother covered in pizza, soup and possibly baby sick.

Fingers were pointed at various players but both clubs played-down the row.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. APPLICATION FORM FOR MUFC SUPPORTERS CLUB

    I wish to­ become a Manchester United supporter and I confirm­ that:

    1) I was born nowhere near Manchester and am­ prepared to show no loyalty to teams located in my­ local area.

    2) I confirm that I know absolutely­ nothing about football and will never seek to improve­ on my ignorance.

    3) I am a pretentious glory seeker­ and have rejected supporting my local team on the­ grounds that they might not give me enough reflected­ kudos.

    4) I am prepared to eat prawn sandwiches and­ totally reject meat pies, burger and chips and pints of­ beer on the grounds that these reflect the traits of­ true football fans from other clubs.

    5) I will buy a­ replica shirt at least twice a year and appreciate the­ kindness of the club in regularly changing the design,­ of transferring Ronaldo and Tevez and of increasing­ prices in the Club shop, in the interests of us­ supporters.

    6) I am only interested in winning and­ will sulk unreservedly if we do not win every game.­ Equally I will stop watching matches if we do not win­ regularly and will switch my allegiance to another team­ if they look more likely to win trophies.

    7) I will­ never publicly admit that Sir Alex Ferguson may have­ Alzheimer`s disease, that the Glazers have no money and­ that the club is in huge debt and that our best days­ may well be over.

    8) I am a total­ t**t.

    Signed....................

    From dorisdazzler, on Fri 28 Aug 9:37PM

  2. SILENT ASSASSIN = SCOUSE HATER = DAZMANUTD = BADGER ALL­ THE SAME PERSON THIS WEIRD LITTLE FREAK ACTUALLY FLITS­ FROM IDENTITY TO IDENTITY RESPONDING TO HIMSELF?? HOW­ MAD IS THAT? I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST SHARED TO­ EVERYONE WHAT A 5HIT JOB YOU GOT HAHHAHAHAA
    SUPRISED­ YOU CAN AFFORD A SQUARE MEAL TIN RIBS. LETS GET THIS­ STRAIGHT YOU PRINT LOGOS FOR T SHIRTS IN ASDA AND­ TESCOS?? DID YOU REALLY SAY THAT? HOW MANY GCSE'S­ DID YOU NEED FOR THAT? THE MORE I HEAR OUT OF YOU THE­ THICKER YOU ARE SCORE OWN GOALS LEFT RIGHT AND CENTRE

    From FoeyP, on Fri 28 Aug 9:32PM

  3. What the f'ck does janner mean? I've never­ heard such a supid thing to call someone is it short­ for janitor or something?Must only be known around the­ chorlton area?? Your job sounds amazing one step from a­ shelf stacker if you ask me , no wonder you can't­ afford to go the game you tramp. Your an insane­ multiposter your all the same person the white coats­ will be coming for you. Oh and another Hilsborough­ shout too yawn yawn yawn yawn, you really are a boring­ sad b'stard eh? Get a life and a better job cause­ it sound garbage no wonder your full of hate

    From FoeyP, on Fri 28 Aug 9:28PM

  4. what a freak he is,needs to get a life,bet he wears a­ t- shirt that says I am a virgin-i have no mates-i suck­ on the first date-Lick on these nuts-Barca-sex­ instructor first blow free.------------spotty fat­ virgin tuggin right now probably over city badge..ha ha

    From dorisdazzler, on Fri 28 Aug 9:27PM

  5. 205 glad you can see already what these 2 idiots are­ like, you cant pass an opinion or discuss anything,­ especially with phoneyp, unless you are a Liverpudlian­ or support Loserpool. he seems not to understand that­ these are forums for an EXCHANGE OF VIEWS, clearly he­ is not intelligent enough to have­ any......................

    From the silent assassin, on Fri 28 Aug 9:17PM

  6. with a little help from your new sidekick Doris

    From the silent assassin, on Fri 28 Aug 9:10PM

  7. foeyp you rally are mad you know that don't you????

    From yorkie, on Fri 28 Aug 9:09PM

  8. and phoneyp in case you havent noticed you are talking­ to and replying to yourself, first sign of madness you­ little ars. wipe

    From the silent assassin, on Fri 28 Aug 9:07PM

  9. ....................APPLICATION FORM FOR ENTER THE­ COMPETE @#$% CHILD CLUB...........
    1, you name is­ DORIS..
    grow up ya pretend fan of football,
    a true fan­ will enjoy watching any team play good football.
    its­ like a f*&^kin school yard ffs

    From ArcAngel Mike, on Fri 28 Aug 9:06PM

  10. dave.fleming, they are...married last year little ho mo­ janners......

    From yorkie, on Fri 28 Aug 9:02PM

  11. I can see Arsenal running away with a comfortable and­ unexpected win at Old Traford. United will lose this­ game because this is NOT their year.
    Okk

    From Okk, on Fri 28 Aug 9:02PM

  12. foeyp i know assassin, a good friend of mine you di*k,­ not me at all you head.......i don't get many days­ off, with working from home at the weekends, do you­ know what i do??? i'll tell you, when you and your­ janner mum go to asda or tescos and she brings you back­ one of those cheep t-shirt with a slogan on it, the­ ones you wear with pride cos you think your funny and­ with it??????? well i design the slogans and logos for­ them......MPHQ is the company that makes them and is­ responsible for for what goes on them.....so you little­ janner, sit up straight there's a good boy , open­ your ears.......F**K OFF YOU BIN DIPPING SCOUSE­ HILLSBOROUGH WEEPING LITTLE SKIP RAT AND GET A LIFE YOU­ CLOWN........ now...you may go......

    From yorkie, on Fri 28 Aug 9:01PM

  13. Who am I talking to? Daz? Badger? Simple Assassin or­ Scousehater??
    Your a shitzo have four different­ personalities you even reply to yourself your pathetic

    From FoeyP, on Fri 28 Aug 9:00PM

  14. 'foeyp' and 'dorisdazzler' should get­ together - then they could produce even more brainless­ mongrels, - like themselves!

    From dave.fleming, on Fri 28 Aug 8:56PM

  15. you have OCD and are fast becoming a stalker

    From the silent assassin, on Fri 28 Aug 8:47PM

  16. keep it up phoneyp, everyone who comes on here knows­ what you're like, you challenge people to a­ meeting, then turn up with loads of mates and weapons,­ i think everyone can see what you are

    From the silent assassin, on Fri 28 Aug 8:46PM

  17. Look here he goes replying as the silent assassin he­ actually replies to himself proper looney need locking­ up in a mental asylum fruit cake fantasist

    From FoeyP, on Fri 28 Aug 8:40PM

  18. APPLICATION FORM FOR MUFC SUPPORTERS CLUB

    I wish to­ become a Manchester United supporter and I confirm­ that:

    1) I was born nowhere near Manchester and am­ prepared to show no loyalty to teams located in my­ local area.

    2) I confirm that I know absolutely­ nothing about football and will never seek to improve­ on my ignorance.

    3) I am a pretentious glory seeker­ and have rejected supporting my local team on the­ grounds that they might not give me enough reflected­ kudos.

    4) I am prepared to eat prawn sandwiches and­ totally reject meat pies, burger and chips and pints of­ beer on the grounds that these reflect the traits of­ true football fans from other clubs.

    5) I will buy a­ replica shirt at least twice a year and appreciate the­ kindness of the club in regularly changing the design,­ of transferring Ronaldo and Tevez and of increasing­ prices in the Club shop, in the interests of us­ supporters.

    6) I am only interested in winning and­ will sulk unreservedly if we do not win every game.­ Equally I will stop watching matches if we do not win­ regularly and will switch my allegiance to another team­ if they look more likely to win trophies.

    7) I will­ never publicly admit that Sir Alex Ferguson may have­ Alzheimer`s disease, that the Glazers have no money and­ that the club is in huge debt and that our best days­ may well be over.

    8) I am a total­ t**t.

    Signed....................

    From dorisdazzler, on Fri 28 Aug 8:40PM

  19. Doris offer him out he'll arrange to meet you but­ then won't show up, so you will always win by­ default as I have about 5 times, he's a proper­ schitzo he even replies to himself under other names a­ right wacky noncey type fecker

    From FoeyP, on Fri 28 Aug 8:39PM

  20. and phoneyp is a violent thug who pretends hes innocent­ and whiter than white

    From the silent assassin, on Fri 28 Aug 8:35PM
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