Arsenal vs Manchester United preview : When Dortmund met United's Holy Trinity

Arsenal v Manchester United

Everybody was quick to praise Arsene Wenger and his team after their fantastic victory in Germany a few nights back. Beating the previous year’s European finalists at their own backyard against the backdrop of their impressive home record is commendable indeed. Considering that Arsene Wenger’s young side dug out a result from what seemed a fairly even contest must give Arsenal fans goose pimples. While Arsenal FC flew back to London with showers of praise bestowed on them by the English media, a false but believable designation attached itself to Arsenal: The First English Club to beat BVB in their own backyard.

Taking into account Arsenal’s impressive records of being the first club to do like wise at Real Madrid and AC Milan, the false rumours that they added BVB into their list seemed plausible. Similar rumours circulated last year when Arsenal beat Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Allianz Arena technically making them the first team to beat Bayern at home under one condition: If the home pitch was the Allianz Arena only.

Norwich City in the 93/94 season beat Bayern 2-1, this encounter unfolding at the Olympic Stadium, Bayern’s previous home stadium.

Arsenal play Manchester United on Sunday and it was only fitting that their recently coveted “record” be snatched away by a quick glance into European football history. So if it wasn’t the North Londoners, who bags the elusive record ? Arsene’s greatest rivals of course, Manchester United.

Back in 1964, Matt Busby was beginning to see the fruits of his rebuilding post the Munich disaster come to life. 1963 saw United win the FA cup 5 years after Munich, the foundations of a new team seeded. George Best‘s introduction into the starting XI injected a much needed boost of youthful exuberance that sparked a renaissance for United and Busby eventually leading to the most devastating trio in European football at that time: George Best-Denis Law-Bobby Charlton; all of them Ballon d’Or recipients.

United’s FA Cup triumph granted them an opportunity to impress in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup (a tournament graced by the who’s who of European football) where they met Dortmund in the second knockout round hammering them 6-1. Bobby Charlton ran riot with a hat trick with George Best and Denis Law also finding the net. This match offered one of the first glimpses into the potential of the United triumvirate that would go on to establish itself as one of the best in European football history.

The Inter Cities Fairs Cup(1955-1971) is currently not recognized by UEFA as it was never organized by the prestigious body. FIFA on the other hand offers the tournament some redemption by recognizing its winners and factoring performances by clubs as European honours.

Arsenal fans that eventually come to the realisation that Dortmund were humbled almost half a decade ago by their rivals will formulate the gravity of the situation they face on Sunday. A club with its history embedded into European football’s humble beginnings coupled with their uncanny ability to bounce back from treacherous waters only makes United far dangerous than any other opponent Arsenal have brushed aside in their imposing run of form.

Sunday will be judgement day, after all.