Manchester United vs. Arsenal: 5 Iconic Moments to Define the Rivalry (Video)

When Arsene Wenger was named Arsenal manager in 1996, he was tasked with taking on a rampant Manchester United team re-born under Alex Ferguson (the Sir would come later).

United had won three titles in four seasons when Wenger arrived in England, and they duly picked up another in the 1996-97 campaign.

Wenger's team fired back with a remarkable run to the Double in 1998, and there began a rivalry between the two teams—and the two managers—that burns bright to this day.

Here are clips from five games that define the rivalry ahead of the the meeting between the two teams at Old Trafford on Sunday.

1999: Bare-Chested Ryan Giggs

Arsenal were the FA Cup holders, Manchester United the favorites. The game had gone to a replay and United were down to 10 men when Arsenal won a penalty in the dying minutes.

What happened next defined the seasons of both clubs and produced the most iconic moment of Ryan Giggs' career.

2000: The Genius of Thierry Henry

United and Arsenal were battling out a tight encounter at Highbury when Thierry Henry produced one the greatest goals in Premier League history to win it.

2003: Keown vs. Van Nistelrooy

A scrappy, bad-tempered game was heading for 0-0 at Old Trafford when United won a late penalty.

Up stepped Ruud van Nistelrooy, and his miss sparked ugly scenes that had both managers furious after the game.

2004: Pizza-Gate at Old Trafford

Arsenal arrived at Old Trafford protecting a record 49-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.

When United won a penalty, guess who stepped up to take it...

United won 2-0 and as tempers flared in the tunnel after the game—a slice of pizza was said to hit Sir Alex Ferguson in the face.

2005: Vieira vs. Keane

Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira were not players to back down in a conflict.

In 2005, the pair famously squared off in the tunnel before a meeting between the two teams.