Arsenal v Manchester United is likely one of the greatest grudge matches in English soccer.
A fixture typically stuffed with heated exchanges, late tackles and loads of drama, the 2 have met precisely 240 occasions since 1984, with United popping out on prime 101 occasions to the Gunners’ 89.
16 of these conferences have been within the FA Cup, although quickly, will probably be 17.
Within the new yr, Arsenal and United will go head-to-head on the Emirates Stadium within the third spherical of the competitors in what is going to little doubt be one other feisty affair. Forward of the match, we have recalled the seven finest FA Cup clashes between the pair.
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7
Man Utd 4-0 Arsenal (2008)
Crimson Devils batter much-changed title rivals
Arsenal had been heading in the right direction for a primary league title in 4 years after they met United within the fifth spherical of the 2007/08 FA Cup, and as such, supervisor Arsene Wenger opted to relaxation a number of first-team gamers. It proved to be a poor choice by the Frenchman.
To no one’s shock, the likes of Justin Hoyte, Armand Traore and Nicklas Bendtner could not sustain with United, who ran out as complete 4-0 winners due to a brace from Darren Fletcher and objectives from Wayne Rooney and Nani.
Arsenal’s season started to unravel quickly after. They went on to win simply certainly one of their subsequent eight video games within the Premier League as their title hopes slipped by their arms and into United’s, who went on to be topped champions.
6
Arsenal 0-1 Man Utd (2004)
Scholes strike defeats Invincibles at Villa Park
Arsenal had been within the midst of an unbeaten league season and on an 18-match unbeaten run within the FA Cup after they took on United at Villa Park within the semi-finals in 2003/04.
United, seemingly incensed by their rivals’ good type, had been up for a battle – and gave the Gunners simply that.
After scoring the eventual profitable aim within the thirty first minute, Paul Scholes put in an terrible problem on Jose Antonio Reyes, which, whereas unpunished, left the Spaniard with ligament harm.
Roy Keane additionally bought away with numerous questionable challenges, whereas Freddie Ljungberg broke his hand because the Gunners’ hopes of a well-known treble had been actually hacked brief.
5
Man Utd 1-2 Arsenal (2015)
Welbeck returns to dump United out
Simply someday after Radamel Falcao accomplished a big-money mortgage transfer to United in September 2015, Danny Welbeck, a product of the Crimson Devils’ academy, left the membership to affix rivals Arsenal in a £16 million transfer.
“We let him go due to Falcao,” United supervisor Louis van Gaal mentioned following his departure.
Six months later, Welbeck returned to Outdated Trafford for the primary time and scored the winner, which he celebrated wildly, to steer Arsenal into the semi-finals of the FA Cup and finish United’s reasonable hopes of silverware for the season.
With Falcao left on the bench, United responded shortly to Nacho Monreal’s opener by Wayne Rooney, however imploded as Welbeck’s strike was adopted by the sending-off of Angel Di Maria, who actually noticed crimson after confronting referee Michael Oliver.
The Gunners then noticed off Studying and Aston Villa to safe a second successive FA Cup triumph.
4
Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd (2005)
Vieira seals tense ultimate regardless of United domination
United fully dominated the 2005 FA Cup ultimate, but it surely was Arsenal who prevailed as winners by means of penalties.
The Crimson Devils had 4 occasions as many pictures as their opponents, eight occasions as many pictures on course and 12 occasions as many corners, however could not discover a breakthrough, with Wayne Rooney coming closest when he hit the publish within the 66th minute.
Within the shootout, Paul Scholes noticed his effort saved by Jens Lehmann, earlier than Patrick Vieira stepped as much as rating the profitable spot-kick with what was his final kick of a ball in an Arsenal shirt. Arsene Wenger conceded after the sport that his aspect “had been a bit fortunate”.
3
Man Utd 0-2 Arsenal (2003)
Giggs misses and Beckham booted as holders progress
Arsene Wenger rested Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp when Arsenal met United within the fifth spherical of the 2002/03 FA Cup, but it surely proved to not matter as replacements Francis Jeffers and Sylvain Wiltord proved an excessive amount of for the Crimson Devils in what was a usually ill-tempered affair at Outdated Trafford.
After three yellow playing cards within the opening seven minutes, United had the possibility to take the lead when Ryan Giggs ran by on aim and rounded Arsenal ‘keeper David Seaman. Nevertheless, with an empty internet, the Welshman put the ball over the bar.
The miss proved to be pivotal, as shortly after, midfielder Edu put the Gunners in entrance with a deflected free-kick earlier than Wiltord doubled their benefit simply after the break.
The aftermath of the sport was then overshadowed by a unprecedented dressing room incident that left David Beckham requiring stitches courtesy of Sir Alex Ferguson’s flying boot.
Arsenal went on to win the trophy, beating Southampton 1-0 within the ultimate.
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2
Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd (1979)
The 5-minute Closing ends in Gunners glory
The 1979 FA Cup ultimate was determined in 5 minutes of pure, unadulterated chaos.
Arsenal had taken a 2-0 lead by half-time due to objectives from Brian Talbot and Frank Stapleton, and with 86 minutes on the clock, regarded set to avenge their loss to Bobby Robson’s Ipswich City within the earlier yr’s ultimate.
Nevertheless, United then inexplicably drew degree, scoring twice in two minutes by Gordon McQueen and Sammy McIlroy, the latter of whom took benefit of some actually terrible defending from the Gunners.
Nearly as quickly as McIlroy had completed celebrating, Alan Sunderland stole in on the again publish to attain the winner for the Gunners, clinching their first trophy in eight years. Utter insanity.
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1
Arsenal 1-2 Man Utd (1999)
Giggs wondergoal settles epic semi-final replay
Within the last-ever FA Cup semi-final replay, the fixture bought a becoming send-off in 1999 due to Arsenal and United, who gave us a sport for ages at Villa Park.
David Beckham had given United the lead early on earlier than Dennis Bergkamp levelled for Arsenal within the second half. After Roy Keane was despatched for an early bathtub, Phil Neville then conceded a penalty within the ninetieth minute at hand the Gunners an opportunity to win the sport.
However Peter Schmeichel saved Bergkamp’s spot kick and the tie went into extra-time, the place Ryan Giggs would rating the winner with one of many best FA Cup objectives of all time, dribbling by 4 Arsenal defenders earlier than slamming the ball into the roof of the online.
In 2019, Gary Neville described the match because the “finest sport of soccer I’ve ever performed in.”
“It was the one time in a match the place I ever smiled once I was taking part in – the one time I’ve performed that in a strain second because it was pleasurable in addition to thrilling,” he mentioned, including: “You already know while you simply really feel: ‘That is one thing particular.'”
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