Five of the best United v Arsenal matches
Wenger's Gunners look capable of ending long winless run at Old Trafford
MAN UNITED v ARSENAL
(Tonight, 8.25pm, Singtel TV Ch 103 & StarHub TV Ch 228 - Eleven Plus HD)
Manchester United v Arsenal. The Theatre of Dreams. Primetime in Singapore. Tonight. If that doesn't get the juices flowing then it might be time to start following another sport.
The Gunners' rivalry with the Red Devils has arguably been the fiercest in the Premier League era. The two sometimes very bitter rivals have served up some of the most memorable moments and matches in the 25-year history of the competition. Let me take you back…
Aug 28, 2011
MAN UNITED 8
ARSENAL 2
Arsenal's worst defeat since 1896 did have its mitigating factors; a raft of injuries and suspensions, plus the recent loss of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri to Manchester City. But 8-2? Arsenal? It was a result that sent shockwaves through the footballing world as a Wayne Rooney in his prime led the way with a hat-trick.
Oct 24, 2004
MAN UNITED 2
ARSENAL 0
The 49th and final game of the Invincibles' thrilling unbeaten run. Rooney was once again at the hub of everything; winning a controversial penalty that was dispatched by the man Gunners fans loved to hate, Ruud van Nistelrooy, before wrapping up the victory with a stoppage-time strike. Judging by Sir Alex Ferguson's post-match pizza-stained visage, it's safe to say that the Gunners didn't take the denouement of their invincibility too well.
Sept 21, 2003
MAN UNITED 0
ARSENAL 0
Although the rivalry between Arsenal and United had been simmering for years, this was the date when the tension was ramped up a notch or 10. A titanic tussle that witnessed eight yellow cards and a sending off for Patrick Vieira, culminated in van Nistelrooy's injury time spot-kick crashing off the crossbar. The Dutch goal-getter's pain was further exacerbated when he was subsequently man-handled by a baying Arsenal mob, led by a borderline-psychotic Martin Keown.
May 8, 2002
MAN UNITED 0
ARSENAL 1
Arsenal travelled to Old Trafford knowing they needed just a point to add a second Premier League title to Arsene Wenger's glowing CV; a small matter of the Double was also up for grabs for a Gunners' side that had lifted the FA Cup the previous Saturday. Arsenal were excellent throughout, and Sylvain Wiltord's 55th-minute winner was just reward for a side that had navigated their way through an entire league season without suffering an away defeat.
Feb 25, 2001
MAN UNITED 6
ARSENAL 1
Although there were nearly three months of the campaign remaining, this emphatic result saw United stretch their lead at the top to 16 points with just 10 games to play. Dwight Yorke bagged a hat-trick in the opening 22 minutes to seal a sensational triumph, and all but clinch a seventh title in nine seasons.
Will tonight's early evening clash live up to the aforementioned five famous Premier League match-ups?
If the long-lasting bitterness between the two managers, Wenger and Jose Mourinho, somehow transcends onto the Old Trafford pitch, then we could be in for something special.
Until very recently, Mourinho undoubtedly held the upper hand in the rivalry both in terms of silverware and their personal head-to-heads.
Wenger has never beaten the Portuguese in the Premier League. The Frenchman has won just one of their 15 encounters, the 2015 FA Community Shield. He also hasn't won at Old Trafford for over a decade.
But this game represents a massive opportunity to end that run.
Richard Lenton is the lead presenter at ELEVEN SPORTS NETWORK. Join Richard and his studio guests for ELEVEN's live coverage of the Premier League, which includes today's clashes between Man Utd and Arsenal (8pm) and Southampton versus Liverpool (11pm), as well as the Tuesday showdown between West Brom and Burnley (3.30am). For more details visit www.elevensports.sg
"Mourinho doesn’t like to play wingers... It’s not like before when United played 4-4-2. Now it’s more defensive, looking for results and no longer playing the open football like before, it’s destructive."
— Former Manchester United winger Andrei Kanchelskis on Jose Mourinho’s approach
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