5 most controversial moments in the Arsenal-Manchester United rivalry

Gary Neville (C) holds Patrick Vieira (L) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (R) apart prior to Vieira being sent off when Arsenal played Manchester United at Old Trafford×Proofread Arsenal vs Manchester United was one of the last few rivalries in English football that still breathed the rustic old school feel where passions ran high both on and off the field. Tempers ran high; every ball was contested with such ferociousness that is exhibited only by battling lions.There used to be days where players like Kenae and Vieira epitomised the clubs’ ideologies and the managers also never let the rivalry slack off. The rivalry was at its peak between 1997 and 2005 where these two titans of England clashed in monumental battles each and every season.The battles have mellowed a bit since Arsenal’s slump as a superpower in English football post 2006, but it is still one of the most celebrated rivalries in English club football.

#5 Roy Keane vs Patrick Vieira

Roy Keane hated the Gunners from the bottom of his heart. Even more than the Gunners, the Irishman hated one particular individual. One whom he despised more than anything else – his nemesis and French counterpart Patrick Vieira.

There are so many incidents involving these two legendary midfielders that an entire slide-show can be dedicated to them. Both the players were symbols of their respective club’s ideology. Their duels in midfield are the stuff of legend in the world of football. Especially the ‘no holds barred’ approach which these two hard-hitting midfielders had adopted throughout their playing days.

This incident in particular which took place in 2005 when Manchester United trounced Arsenal 4-2 at Highbury. People still have not forgotten this match for only one reason and that is the total annihilation of Patrick Vieira by Roy Keane on the football pitch.

Vieira wanted to use intimidating tactics on United’s players, particularly on Gary Neville. But Roy Keane could not stand the sight of this and he dared Vieira to pick him up in the game if he could.

The tunnel was about to be turned into a wrestling arena as both players were in a perfect mood to lunge in and attack. Thankfully, the officials noticed this and separated the two warring captains before things got out of hand.

#4 Ian Wright\'s wrong timing

The rivalry had just begun as Arsenal was beginning to threaten Manchester Uniteds stranglehold on Premier League. Things started getting murky as both the clubs began to malign each other in all the departments both on and off the pitch.

Arsenals Ian Wright accused Uniteds keeper Peter Schmeichel of racially abusing him during a match in February of 1997. Sir Alex Ferguson categorically denied the incident in its entirety describing the fiasco as slur on the club. The Football Association was under tremendous pressure to book the Danish keeper for racial abuse but did not do so as they did not find him guilty.

Prior to these accusations by Wright, both the players had collided in the match at Highbury due to a two footed challenge by the Arsenal man on the Dane, which injured his ankle. Man media pundits cite this accusation as a camouflage by Ian Wright to justify his hard challenge.

This accusation rocked already dodgy relations between clubs beyond repair.

#3 Battle of Buffet

Players are often offered refreshments after having a tiring match. But when those refreshments turn into the projectiles for venting one’s frustration, it has to be special.

It was in 2004 when Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ travelled to Old Trafford on the back of an unbeaten run of 49 games. The Invincibles tasted their first defeat in almost 18 months. But the opposition and venue could not have been more apt than the arch rival at their home. Arsenal lost that game 2-0 thanks to a Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty and a late goal from a young Wayne Rooney.

The game had its moments where tempers flared thanks to some dubious refereeing from Mike Riley. Despite this, the game’s moment of madness came after the match was over. An Arsenal player was guilty of throwing a slice of pizza at United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Reportedly, the player involved in this ruckus was Cesc Fabregas which was confirmed later on by an ex-Arsenal player but Fergie is still unsure about the culprit. This pizza-gate scandal in Old Trafford’s dressing room was dubbed by the British media as the ‘Battle of Buffet’.

The game itself was one that saw nasty fouls all over the pitch with Mike Riley doing little to take control and book players guilty of excessive fouling.

#2 From Van Nistelrooy with Love

Arsenal and Manchester Uniteds rivalry was at their peak during the early years of millennium. A 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in September of 2003 was more in the news for its off field and on field shenanigans.

A red card was issued to Patrick Vieira for retaliating to Ruud van Nistelrooys inciting foul. The Frenchman just lost his cool at the antics of the Dutchman who was simulating play at the every possible chance. Vieira vented out his frustration by kicking towards Van Nistelrooy . Although he missed the player by quite some distance but he couldnt escape a second yellow of the match which resulted into his exit from the game.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will be remembered for more than one reason in context of this match. The Dutch striker famously missed a penalty in the Fergie Time which led to wild celebrations from Gunners defender Martin Keown, who mocked the Dutchmans penalty miss with a war dance.

If this on field drama was insufficient then the players entered into a tussle in the tunnel as well after the full time whistle. There were six players who were involved in this tunnel bust up four from Arsenal and two from United. Keown, Ray Parlour, Ashley Cole, Lauren, Jens Lehmann and Patrick Vieira were all charged by the FA, along with United stars Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo.

#1 The Battle of Old Trafford

This pre-Premier League era match gave everyone a peek-a-boo into what lay in store for this clash of titans in years to come. The year was 1990 and Sir Alex Ferguson’s rising Manchester United side hosted George Graham’s high flying Arsenal in a high octane clash at Old Trafford.

It started when United’s Brian McClair and Dennis Irwin kicked Arsenal’s left-back Nigel Winterburn. This was enough to start the mayhem. All hell broke loose and 21 players were involved in what is widely termed as the one of the worst on-field brawls in English football. Except for David Seaman, all the players were busy beating the pulp out of each other.

The match ended with a 1-0 victory to Arsenal but both the sides were docked points due to the shambolic brawl that had just maligned the Theatre of Dreams. Due to this brawl, this match is dubbed by media as the original Battle of Old Trafford.

Arsenal still won the League title despite the docked points.