Arsenal: 5 Classic Clashes with Manchester United That the Gunners Won

Having already taken a look at five classic clashes with Arsenal that Manchester United won, it's now time to highlight five encounters between these two great rivals from which the Gunners emerged victorious.

From an FA Cup final thriller in the late '70s to a memorable day at Old Trafford to seal the Double in 2002, with a 21-man brawl, a smattering of fan violence and some sensational goals in between, this rivalry rarely fails to entertain.

1. Arsenal 3-2 United: FA Cup Final 1979, Wembley

Cup classic. Arsenal seemed to be cruising towards glory after Brian Talbot and future United striker Frank Stapleton had put the Gunners into a 2-0 lead with five minutes to go at the end of the 1978-79 season.

Gordon McQueen and Sammy McIlroy hit back within minutes of each other to seemingly send the match into extra-time. Yet no sooner had McIlroy's celebrations ended, Alan Sunderland slid in to score at the other end and settle one of the most dramatic of all cup finals.

2. United 0-1 Arsenal: First Division 1990, Old Trafford

Battle of Old Trafford.

Anders Limpar scored the only goal of the game to give Arsenal victory but the match was not particularly remarkable for the result. Instead it was lodged firmly in the memory for the 21-man brawl which broke out near the touchline after Nigel Winterburn lunged at Denis Irwin, who reacted by joining Brian McClair in kicking the grounded Arsenal man. That sparked a free-for-all which only David Seaman abstained from and resulted in Arsenal being docked two points and United one.

It mattered not a jot to the Gunners though who went on to win the title at a canter.

3. Arsenal 3-2 United: Premiership 1997, Highbury

Electric Highbury. Quality football was back on the agenda seven years later as Arsenal opened up a two-goal lead thanks to Nicolas Anelka and Patrick Vieira, the latter scoring a stunning effort.

Teddy Sheringham's brace pulled United back onto level terms before the break though, setting the stage for David Platt to nod the winner into the top right-hand corner seven minutes from time.

Victory did not come without controversy though, as both Nigel Winterburn and Peter Schmeichel were hit by coins thrown from the crowd after Sheringham had done nothing to calm the incendiary atmosphere with his goal celebrations.

4. United 0-1 Arsenal: Premiership 1998, Old Trafford

Overmars orders a Double. In the return fixture later that season, Arsenal completed the double over twice-defending champions United and with victory effectively ended the title race.

Marc Overmars was the Gunners' hero—the speedy Dutchman found the back of the net with 11 minutes remaining to claim all three points. Arsene Wenger, is his first full season as Arsenal manager, went on to claim his first English title, which proved to be the first part of a historic Double.

5. United 0-1 Arsenal: Premier League 2002: Old Trafford

Invincible. Another Double followed four years later, with the first part won in the sweetest of circumstances.

United needed victory to take the title race to the final day of the season, but a point for the Gunners at Old Trafford in the penultimate game would have sufficed to secure the Premier League crown. Fittingly, during a season in which they went unbeaten, Sylvain Wiltord's second-half goal gave them all three and the title was won in their main rivals' own back yard.

Cue wild celebrations on the pitch and in one part of the stands.