Manchester United and Arsenal will face off in the Premier League for the Monday night showdown. Here we look back to history for some of the top five fixtures between the sides. Bet on football here.
Arsenal 3 v 2 Manchester United: 1979
This match was played in May of 1979 and it has gone down as one of the greatest FA Cup finals ever. Arsenal began the match very well and they seemed in control of proceedings until five minutes from time. Drama began soon after and by the 90th minute three more goals had been scored. Gordon McQueen and Sammy McIlroy almost engineered a remarkable comeback by United, only for Alan Sunderland to net the winner just a minute after McIlroy had equalized. The match has become known as the ‘five-minute final.’
Manchester United 8 v 2 Arsenal: 2011
This match is the highest scoring of their 219 meetings and Manchester United bullied an injury-plagued Arsenal side at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick, Ashley Young scored two fine solo goals, whilst Danny Welbeck, Ji Sung Park and Nani all chipped in with a goal each. Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott did pull goals back for Gunners, but by then the damage was done – and the heaviest defeat in Arsene Wenger’s 19-year tenure at Arsenal was already in the history books.
Arsenal 0 v 0 Manchester United (Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties): 2005
Arsenal exerted a measure of revenge for the previous season’s FA Cup defeat against the Red Devils, who actually dominated for large spells. Arsenal were lucky as the goal-frame denied both Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy. at the Millennium Stadium. The Gunners, meanwhile, were reduced to 10 men when Jose Antonio Reyes was sent off towards the end of extra-time. In the first FA Cup final to be decided on penalties, Paul Scholes was the only one to miss from the spot, with Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira slotting home the winner.
Manchester United 0 v 1 Arsenal: 2002
This was yet another close affair and Arsenal were lucky to come out on top. The match was determined by a singular goal as Sylvain Wiltord scored the match winner. Arsenal clinched the title on the ground of their bitter enemies and secured a dramatic turn-around for the North London club. Arsenal went on to clinch their double, when they won the FA Cup a few weeks later.
Arsenal 1 v 2 Manchester United: 1999
This match, played in April 1999, was the defining match of United’s treble-winning season and famous for one of the greatest goals. David Beckham put United in the lead but Dennis Bergkamp equalized and it looked like Arsenal would go on to win as Roy Keane was sent off and soon after Arsenal were awarded a penalty. However, Peter Schmeichel saved Bergkamp’s spot-kick before Ryan Giggs picked up the ball in his own half, to score a brilliant individual effort and secure the win for United.