Best wins over Arsenal
ARSENAL 2-6 UNITED, 28 Nov 1990: A precursor for things to come, as Alex Ferguson’s evolving United side obliterated the season’s champions-in-waiting in jaw-dropping fashion. George Graham’s Gunners had conceded only six goals in their previous 14 league games, but United plundered a half-dozen on an unforgettable League Cup night at Highbury. The tone was set inside 80 seconds by Clayton Blackmore’s 30-yard free-kick, while Mark Hughes and Lee Sharpe thundered the visitors into a three-goal lead by the break. Although the Gunners reduced the deficit to a single goal, Sharpe quickly struck twice more to clinch his treble and Danny Wallace added further gloss late on, leaving Ferguson to purr: “They were totally magnificent.”
UNITED 6-1 ARSENAL, 25 Feb 2001: “It was like watching a youth team,” sighed Arsene Wenger, after seeing his makeshift defence collapse at Old Trafford. United essentially wrapped up a third successive Premier League title in February, roaring into a 16-point lead over the Gunners by virtue of an incredible first-half display. Dwight Yorke opened the scoring inside the three minutes and, though Thierry Henry briefly levelled, the Trinidadian completed his hat-trick inside 22 minutes, then teed up Roy Keane for a fourth before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made it five by the break. Tottenham legend Teddy Sheringham added a late sixth to compound the visitors’ misery.
ARSENAL 2-4 UNITED, 1 Feb 2005: “See you out there.” Rarely has a United-related soundbite been as futureproof as Roy Keane’s pre-match pep talk with Patrick Vieira. Arsenal’s skipper may have had the next word, heading in the opening goal, but the evening ended with United triumphant after Ryan Giggs’ deflected opener, a Cristiano Ronaldo brace and John O’Shea’s sublime late chip. Referee Graham Poll had perhaps his busiest evening but, according to the
Daily Mirror’s Oliver Holt: “Some will say that too much of this game was ugly but that is to ignore the primitive beauty that existed in this supreme triumph of the will of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.”
ARSENAL 1-3 UNITED, 5 May 2009: The manner of 2009's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona provides painful memories for United supporters, but not as excruciating as those that Arsenal supporters took from their semi-final dismantling at the Emirates Stadium. Manuel Almunia had kept the Gunners in the tie during a one-way first leg at Old Trafford, but the Spanish stopper was quickly beaten by Ji-sung Park's opener and a 40-yard Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick to render the tie finished with an hour left. United's Portuguese talisman then capped a classic counter-attack and, though Robin van Persie hit a late penalty, Patrice Evra witheringly summarised: "We were 11 men and they were 11 children."
UNITED 8-2 ARSENAL, 28 Aug 2011: A merciless show of strength from the Reds against an Arsenal side ravaged by injuries and suspension. “I think it’s unfair to criticise him,” said the United manager of his visiting counterpart, magnanimity no doubt aided by the resounding scoreline, which prompts a second look – just to check – even today. Future Gunner Danny Welbeck nodded in the opener, future Red Robin van Persie had a penalty saved by David De Gea, and both Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney struck from distance before Theo Walcott scored on the stroke of half-time. Rooney went on to complete a hat-trick, Nani and Park also netted and Young arrowed home an eighth goal, rendering van Persie’s effort inconsequential.
HTML Code:
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2016/Feb/Greatest-wins-v-Arsenal-video-feature-as-featured-in-Inside-United.aspx