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Arsenal FC: The Top 10 Arsenal vs. Manchester United Matches of All Time

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The 118-year-old rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United is studded with history and truly unforgettable moments.

Throughout the years, fans have been treated to great swashbuckling displays of football from both sides, and the competitive fire that has lit the fixtures afire makes them so exciting.

Perhaps another chapter shall be written into the history books of this great and illustrious rivalry this weekend, when the Gunners host the Red Devils at the Emirates Stadium.

In celebration of what should be another fantastic game of football, let us list the very best matches between Arsenal and Manchester United over the years.

February 1, 1958: Arsenal 4-5 Manchester United

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This was a fantastic and exciting game of football played by two extremely entertaining and skilled sides, with goals from Tommy Taylor, Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton and Dennis Viollet.

Astute football fans who know their history will look at the date of this fixture and realize, that this match was played only four days before the Munich air disaster that took the lives of almost the entire United first team.

Alas, this great contest was the last that many of those ill-fated men of Manchester United would ever play in England.

May 12, 1979: Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United

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Again, fans who know their history will immediately recognize the date of this match as none other than the historic FA Cup final in which Arsenal triumphed over Manchester United at the last second.

After the Red Devils had wiped out Arsenal's 2-0 lead with only minutes to play, Alan Sunderland raced down the field to score a last-gasp winner in stoppage time to give the Gunners a precious victory.

Though this was the only victory for Arsenal in three FA Cup finals with United during the late '70s, it will forever live in Arsenal lore.

October 20, 1990: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal

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The scoreline of this particular match is not important, because this is the match that is generally accepted as the starting point for the ferocious modern Arsenal-Manchester United rivalry.

After Arsenal left back Nigel Winterburn lunged on Dennis Irwin, a 21-man brawl ensued, which resulted in United being docked one point, while Arsenal were stripped of two.

The Gunners would go on to win the title with only one loss that season, and this one match would set the stage for many great ones to follow it.

September 30, 2000: Thierry Henry 1-0 Manchester United

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This particular match was selected in large part because of what is, in my opinion, the best goal ever scored by Thierry Henry and one of the best in the history of football.

The Frenchman's spectacular, jaw-dropping chip and self-volley leave me agape every time I see the two moves performed in beautiful harmony.

I would not count the legend out from pulling off another act of greatness this weekend against an old foe.

September 21, 2003: Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal

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In one of the more famous and legendary Premier League games in history, Arsenal barely scraped through the clash with a 0-0 score, as Ruud van Nistelrooy banged a penalty off the crossbar in extra time.

The Dutch striker was ridiculed by Arsene Wenger, Martin Keown, Ray Parlour and others, as is hilariously evident in the picture.

What was not known at the time was that if van Nistelrooy had converted his penalty, Arsenal's legendary unbeaten run would have been over before it had truly begun, and the Invincibles would not have gone down in history as the only side ever to go a full League season unbeaten since 1886.

October 24, 2004: "The Battle of the Buffet"

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In an equally famous match, Arsenal's historic unbeaten run was stopped at 49 games when Manchester United took down the Gunners 2-0 at Old Trafford.

When Ruud van Nistelrooy won a penalty in the 73rd minute, he was ridiculed by the entire Arsenal team for diving. He converted his spot kick this time, and when Wayne Rooney added another in the 90th minute, it was all over.

Then, absolute mayhem erupted in the tunnel, as Arsene Wenger accused van Nistelrooy of being a cheat, and players scuffled.

When Sir Alex Ferguson arrived to defend his man, an unidentified player (later revealed to astoundingly be, in all likelihood, 17-year-old Cesc Fabregas) whipped a pizza at Fergie's face.

The match has therefore been labeled "The Battle of the Buffet."

February 1, 2005: Arsenal 2-4 Manchester United

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This match is not so famous for its scoreline as it is for the conflicts that surrounded it.

Specifically, this was the match that cemented the contempt that Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane had for one another.

In the tunnel before the match, the two came eye to eye, and nearly came to blows, as the great Vieira refused to be bullied by the pure scum that is Keane.

After referee Graham Poll was forced to separate the two, the match inevitably went on, and Arsenal were forced to endure a disappointing result.

May 21, 2005: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United

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In another FA Cup final, Arsenal emerged victorious yet again, this time on penalties.

Indeed, the Gunners were generally outplayed throughout the match, but they managed to hold on and force the first penalty shootout in the history of the FA Cup final.

Fittingly, the winning penalty was slotted home by captain Patrick Vieira, and this would unfortunately be the last professional kick of a football he would take in an Arsenal shirt.

Even more sadly, that was the last trophy that Arsenal have won to date.

January 21, 2007: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United

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Neither Arsenal nor Thierry Henry have had many trademark moments to celebrate at the Emirates.

However, one golden nugget came against Manchester United during Henry's last full season with Arsenal.

After an 83rd minute Robin van Persie equalizer, Emmanuel Eboue lofted a hopeful cross into the box, where Henry, not normally renowned for his heading ability, rose above everyone else and flicked a perfect header just above Edwin van der Sar and just under the bar to hand Arsenal a dramatic win.

It was a real moment to cherish, and with the possible exception of his classic goal on his return to the club versus Leeds United, Henry's finest at the Emirates.

August 28, 2011: Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal

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Oh dear, what to say about such a pathetic, humiliating result.

An Arsenal side that should never have been so short on resources was absolutely demolished by a genuine title contender at Old Trafford in a match where it looked as if one team was not composed of professional footballers.

Wayne Rooney hit a hat trick as five different United goalscorers sank Arsenal to the depths of shame and despair.

But there is only one mentality one can have after such an embarrassment: When can I get revenge?

For Arsenal, that time will finally arrive this weekend.

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