The rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United is one that has ebbed and flowed over the years. It is not based on geography, nor really on any one particular incident and, in fact, for many years these teams have not really been rivals at all. Nonetheless, when the two meet it remains a huge clash and that is because the Gunners and United are two of the three most successful sides in English football.
With the north London giants being the record winners of the FA Cup (just one ahead of the Red Devils ahead of the 2024/25 season) and Man United the most successful team in terms of Premier League wins (both in the PL era and in terms of top-flight titles), it is no surprise that there has been real animosity between the duo at various times. On many occasions over the years, the two teams have been battling it out for the same trophies, and this is one of the key things that makes a rivalry develop.
This was most marked during the late 1990s and early years of the 21st century, when Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson oversaw a period of prolonged Arsenal and Man United success. There were various verbal spats between the two, with these sometimes almost becoming physical. The most controversial incident involved Fergie and one of Wenger’s players, however, with Cesc Fàbregas recently confirming he was at the heart of “Pizzagate”.
Also known as the “Battle of the Buffet”, the incident occurred after United beat Arsenal 2-0 in October 2004, ending their long unbeaten run at 49 games. A melee occurred in the tunnel after the clash, with Fabregas throwing a slice of pizza at Man United’s boss. Needless to say, that did not calm the situation down.
The rivalry between Arsenal and Man United calmed down as Arsenal became less of threat to the Red Devils’ dominance and Chelsea took up that mantle. However, at its height, games between the two were feisty, to say the least, with the managers’ on-field generals, Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane at the heart of that. Between the start of 1997 and February 2005, there were seven red cards shown in this fixture.
There have been around 250 meetings between the clubs in all competitions with the honours broadly even. Among that huge number of clashes, there have been far too many memorable moments. Ones Arsenal wish they could forget include the 8-2 drubbing they suffered in 2011, and the FA Cup semi-final in 1999. In that clash, Arsenal missed a late penalty and couldn’t win against 10 men, after Keane was sent off, and Ryan Giggs scored a wonder goal in extra time to win it for United.
The Gunners have had their ups too, of course. They beat United 3-2 in the FA Cup final in 1979, as well as in a penalty shootout in the final in 2005. They also have big wins of their own, including a 4-0 win in 2001, a 5-1 win back in 1961, and a 6-2 victory way back in 1947.
Arsenal’s Full Match History Against Man United
Date | Home | Score | Away | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 May 2024 | Manchester United | 0-1 | Arsenal | W | Premier League |
03 Sep 2023 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
22 Jan 2023 | Arsenal | 3-2 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
04 Sep 2022 | Manchester United | 3-1 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
23 Apr 2022 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
02 Dec 2021 | Manchester United | 3-2 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
30 Jan 2021 | Arsenal | 0-0 | Manchester United | D | Premier League |
01 Nov 2020 | Manchester United | 0-1 | Arsenal | W | Premier League |
01 Jan 2020 | Arsenal | 2-0 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
30 Sep 2019 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | Premier League |
10 Mar 2019 | Arsenal | 2-0 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
25 Jan 2019 | Arsenal | 1-3 | Manchester United | L | FA Cup |
05 Dec 2018 | Manchester United | 2-2 | Arsenal | D | Premier League |
29 Apr 2018 | Manchester United | 2-1 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
02 Dec 2017 | Arsenal | 1-3 | Manchester United | L | Premier League |
07 May 2017 | Arsenal | 2-0 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
19 Nov 2016 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | Premier League |
28 Feb 2016 | Manchester United | 3-2 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
04 Oct 2015 | Arsenal | 3-0 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
17 May 2015 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | Premier League |
09 Mar 2015 | Manchester United | 1-2 | Arsenal | W | FA Cup |
22 Nov 2014 | Arsenal | 1-2 | Manchester United | L | Premier League |
12 Feb 2014 | Arsenal | 0-0 | Manchester United | D | Premier League |
10 Nov 2013 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
28 Apr 2013 | Arsenal | 1-1 | Manchester United | D | Premier League |
03 Nov 2012 | Manchester United | 2-1 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
22 Jan 2012 | Arsenal | 1-2 | Manchester United | L | Premier League |
28 Aug 2011 | Manchester United | 8-2 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
01 May 2011 | Arsenal | 1-0 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
12 Mar 2011 | Manchester United | 2-0 | Arsenal | L | FA Cup |
13 Dec 2010 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
31 Jan 2010 | Arsenal | 1-3 | Manchester United | L | Premier League |
29 Aug 2009 | Manchester United | 2-1 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
16 May 2009 | Manchester United | 0-0 | Arsenal | D | Premier League |
05 May 2009 | Arsenal | 1-3 | Manchester United | L | UEFA Champions League |
29 Apr 2009 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | UEFA Champions League |
08 Nov 2008 | Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
13 Apr 2008 | Manchester United | 2-1 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
16 Feb 2008 | Manchester United | 4-0 | Arsenal | L | FA Cup |
03 Nov 2007 | Arsenal | 2-2 | Manchester United | D | Premier League |
21 Jan 2007 | Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
17 Sep 2006 | Manchester United | 0-1 | Arsenal | W | Premier League |
09 Apr 2006 | Manchester United | 2-0 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
03 Jan 2006 | Arsenal | 0-0 | Manchester United | D | Premier League |
21 May 2005 | Arsenal | 0-0 | Manchester United | W | FA Cup |
01 Feb 2005 | Arsenal | 2-4 | Manchester United | L | Premier League |
01 Dec 2004 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | League Cup |
24 Oct 2004 | Manchester United | 2-0 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
08 Aug 2004 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | FA Community Shield |
03 Apr 2004 | Arsenal | 0-1 | Manchester United | L | FA Cup |
28 Mar 2004 | Arsenal | 1-1 | Manchester United | D | Premier League |
21 Sep 2003 | Manchester United | 0-0 | Arsenal | D | Premier League |
10 Aug 2003 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | L | FA Community Shield |
16 Apr 2003 | Arsenal | 2-2 | Manchester United | D | Premier League |
15 Feb 2003 | Manchester United | 0-2 | Arsenal | W | FA Cup |
07 Dec 2002 | Manchester United | 2-0 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
08 May 2002 | Manchester United | 0-1 | Arsenal | W | Premier League |
25 Nov 2001 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
05 Nov 2001 | Arsenal | 4-0 | Manchester United | W | League Cup |
25 Feb 2001 | Manchester United | 6-1 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
01 Oct 2000 | Arsenal | 1-0 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
24 Jan 2000 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | Premier League |
22 Aug 1999 | Arsenal | 1-2 | Manchester United | L | Premier League |
01 Aug 1999 | Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | FA Charity Shield |
14 Apr 1999 | Arsenal | 1-2 | Manchester United | L | FA Cup |
11 Apr 1999 | Manchester United | 0-0 | Arsenal | D | FA Cup |
17 Feb 1999 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | Premier League |
20 Sep 1998 | Arsenal | 3-0 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
09 Aug 1998 | Arsenal | 3-0 | Manchester United | W | FA Charity Shield |
14 Mar 1998 | Manchester United | 0-1 | Arsenal | W | Premier League |
09 Nov 1997 | Arsenal | 3-2 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
19 Feb 1997 | Arsenal | 1-2 | Manchester United | L | Premier League |
16 Nov 1996 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
20 Mar 1996 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
04 Nov 1995 | Arsenal | 1-0 | Manchester United | W | Premier League |
22 Mar 1995 | Manchester United | 3-0 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
26 Nov 1994 | Arsenal | 0-0 | Manchester United | D | Premier League |
22 Mar 1994 | Arsenal | 2-2 | Manchester United | D | Premier League |
19 Sep 1993 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | Premier League |
07 Aug 1993 | Arsenal | 1-1 | Manchester United | L | FA Charity Shield |
24 Mar 1993 | Manchester United | 0-0 | Arsenal | D | Premier League |
28 Nov 1992 | Arsenal | 0-1 | Manchester United | L | Premier League |
01 Feb 1992 | Arsenal | 1-1 | Manchester United | D | First Division |
19 Oct 1991 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
06 May 1991 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
28 Nov 1990 | Arsenal | 2-6 | Manchester United | L | League Cup |
20 Oct 1990 | Manchester United | 0-1 | Arsenal | W | First Division |
03 Dec 1989 | Arsenal | 1-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
19 Aug 1989 | Manchester United | 4-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
02 Apr 1989 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
17 Dec 1988 | Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
20 Feb 1988 | Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | FA Cup |
24 Jan 1988 | Arsenal | 1-2 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
19 Aug 1987 | Manchester United | 0-0 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
24 Jan 1987 | Manchester United | 2-0 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
23 Aug 1986 | Arsenal | 1-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
21 Dec 1985 | Manchester United | 0-1 | Arsenal | W | First Division |
24 Aug 1985 | Arsenal | 1-2 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
23 Feb 1985 | Arsenal | 0-1 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
02 Nov 1984 | Manchester United | 4-2 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
17 Mar 1984 | Manchester United | 4-0 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
06 Sep 1983 | Arsenal | 2-3 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
02 May 1983 | Arsenal | 3-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
16 Apr 1983 | Arsenal | 1-2 | Manchester United | L | FA Cup |
22 Feb 1983 | Manchester United | 2-1 | Arsenal | L | League Cup |
15 Feb 1983 | Arsenal | 2-4 | Manchester United | L | League Cup |
25 Sep 1982 | Manchester United | 0-0 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
20 Feb 1982 | Manchester United | 0-0 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
26 Sep 1981 | Arsenal | 0-0 | Manchester United | D | First Division |
20 Dec 1980 | Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
11 Oct 1980 | Manchester United | 0-0 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
29 Dec 1979 | Manchester United | 3-0 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
25 Aug 1979 | Arsenal | 0-0 | Manchester United | D | First Division |
12 May 1979 | Arsenal | 3-2 | Manchester United | W | FA Cup |
03 Feb 1979 | Manchester United | 0-2 | Arsenal | W | First Division |
23 Sep 1978 | Arsenal | 1-1 | Manchester United | D | First Division |
01 Apr 1978 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
05 Nov 1977 | Manchester United | 1-2 | Arsenal | W | First Division |
30 Aug 1977 | Arsenal | 3-2 | Manchester United | W | League Cup |
14 May 1977 | Manchester United | 3-2 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
18 Dec 1976 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
22 Nov 1975 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
18 Oct 1975 | Manchester United | 3-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
19 Jan 1974 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
25 Aug 1973 | Arsenal | 3-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
06 Jan 1973 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
26 Aug 1972 | Manchester United | 0-0 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
25 Apr 1972 | Arsenal | 3-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
20 Aug 1971 | Manchester United | 3-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
19 Dec 1970 | Manchester United | 1-3 | Arsenal | W | First Division |
22 Aug 1970 | Arsenal | 4-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
10 Jan 1970 | Manchester United | 2-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
20 Sep 1969 | Arsenal | 2-2 | Manchester United | D | First Division |
26 Dec 1968 | Arsenal | 3-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
05 Oct 1968 | Manchester United | 0-0 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
24 Feb 1968 | Arsenal | 0-2 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
07 Oct 1967 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
03 Mar 1967 | Arsenal | 1-1 | Manchester United | D | First Division |
29 Oct 1966 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
19 Mar 1966 | Manchester United | 2-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
25 Sep 1965 | Arsenal | 4-2 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
26 Apr 1965 | Manchester United | 3-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
28 Nov 1964 | Arsenal | 2-3 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
01 Feb 1964 | Manchester United | 3-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
21 Sep 1963 | Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
06 May 1963 | Manchester United | 2-3 | Arsenal | W | First Division |
25 Aug 1962 | Arsenal | 1-3 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
16 Apr 1962 | Manchester United | 2-3 | Arsenal | W | First Division |
31 Jan 1962 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | FA Cup |
21 Oct 1961 | Arsenal | 5-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
18 Mar 1961 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
29 Oct 1960 | Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
23 Apr 1960 | Arsenal | 5-2 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
10 Oct 1959 | Manchester United | 4-2 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
28 Feb 1959 | Arsenal | 3-2 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
11 Oct 1958 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
01 Feb 1958 | Arsenal | 4-5 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
21 Sep 1957 | Manchester United | 4-2 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
09 Feb 1957 | Manchester United | 6-2 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
29 Sep 1956 | Arsenal | 1-2 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
17 Mar 1956 | Arsenal | 1-1 | Manchester United | D | First Division |
05 Nov 1955 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
23 Apr 1955 | Arsenal | 2-3 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
20 Nov 1954 | Manchester United | 2-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
27 Mar 1954 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
07 Nov 1953 | Manchester United | 2-2 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
03 Sep 1952 | Manchester United | 0-0 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
27 Aug 1952 | Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
26 Apr 1952 | Manchester United | 6-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
08 Dec 1951 | Arsenal | 1-3 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
03 Mar 1951 | Manchester United | 3-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
10 Feb 1951 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | FA Cup |
14 Oct 1950 | Arsenal | 3-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
27 Dec 1949 | Arsenal | 0-0 | Manchester United | D | First Division |
26 Dec 1949 | Manchester United | 2-0 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
01 Jan 1949 | Manchester United | 2-0 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
06 Oct 1948 | Arsenal | 4-3 | Manchester United | W | FA Charity Shield |
28 Aug 1948 | Arsenal | 0-1 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
17 Jan 1948 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
06 Sep 1947 | Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
01 Feb 1947 | Arsenal | 6-2 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
28 Sep 1946 | Manchester United | 5-2 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
15 Apr 1939 | Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
10 Dec 1938 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
06 Feb 1937 | Arsenal | 1-1 | Manchester United | D | First Division |
30 Jan 1937 | Arsenal | 5-0 | Manchester United | W | FA Cup |
03 Oct 1936 | Manchester United | 2-0 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
21 Feb 1931 | Arsenal | 4-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
18 Oct 1930 | Manchester United | 1-2 | Arsenal | W | First Division |
12 Mar 1930 | Arsenal | 4-2 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
26 Oct 1929 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
20 Apr 1929 | Manchester United | 4-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
08 Dec 1928 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
28 Apr 1928 | Arsenal | 0-1 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
17 Dec 1927 | Manchester United | 4-1 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
28 Dec 1926 | Arsenal | 1-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
15 Sep 1926 | Manchester United | 2-2 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
16 Jan 1926 | Arsenal | 3-2 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
05 Sep 1925 | Manchester United | 0-1 | Arsenal | W | First Division |
05 Apr 1922 | Arsenal | 3-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
11 Mar 1922 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Arsenal | L | First Division |
06 Sep 1920 | Manchester United | 1-1 | Arsenal | D | First Division |
30 Aug 1920 | Arsenal | 2-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
28 Feb 1920 | Manchester United | 0-1 | Arsenal | W | First Division |
21 Feb 1920 | Arsenal | 0-3 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
21 Mar 1913 | Manchester United | 2-0 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | First Division |
02 Sep 1912 | Woolwich Arsenal | 0-0 | Manchester United | D | First Division |
05 Apr 1912 | Woolwich Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
01 Jan 1912 | Manchester United | 2-0 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | First Division |
26 Dec 1910 | Manchester United | 5-0 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | First Division |
01 Sep 1910 | Woolwich Arsenal | 1-2 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
12 Mar 1910 | Woolwich Arsenal | 0-0 | Manchester United | D | First Division |
30 Oct 1909 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | First Division |
27 Apr 1909 | Manchester United | 1-4 | Woolwich Arsenal | W | First Division |
19 Dec 1908 | Woolwich Arsenal | 0-1 | Manchester United | L | First Division |
21 Mar 1908 | Woolwich Arsenal | 1-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
23 Nov 1907 | Manchester United | 4-2 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | First Division |
16 Mar 1907 | Woolwich Arsenal | 4-0 | Manchester United | W | First Division |
10 Nov 1906 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | First Division |
10 Mar 1906 | Manchester United | 2-3 | Woolwich Arsenal | W | FA Cup |
30 Jan 1904 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | Second Division |
03 Oct 1903 | Woolwich Arsenal | 4-0 | Manchester United | W | Second Division |
09 Mar 1903 | Manchester United | 3-0 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | Second Division |
25 Oct 1902 | Woolwich Arsenal | 0-1 | Manchester United | L | Second Division |
15 Mar 1902 | Manchester United | 0-1 | Woolwich Arsenal | W | Second Division |
16 Nov 1901 | Woolwich Arsenal | 2-0 | Manchester United | W | Second Division |
16 Mar 1901 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | Second Division |
10 Nov 1900 | Woolwich Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | Second Division |
10 Mar 1900 | Woolwich Arsenal | 2-1 | Manchester United | W | Second Division |
04 Nov 1899 | Manchester United | 2-0 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | Second Division |
01 Apr 1899 | Newton Heath | 2-2 | Woolwich Arsenal | D | Second Division |
03 Dec 1898 | Woolwich Arsenal | 5-1 | Newton Heath | W | Second Division |
26 Feb 1898 | Newton Heath | 5-1 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | Second Division |
08 Jan 1898 | Woolwich Arsenal | 5-1 | Newton Heath | W | Second Division |
03 Apr 1897 | Woolwich Arsenal | 0-2 | Newton Heath | L | Second Division |
22 Mar 1897 | Newton Heath | 1-1 | Woolwich Arsenal | D | Second Division |
30 Nov 1895 | Newton Heath | 5-1 | Woolwich Arsenal | L | Second Division |
09 Nov 1895 | Woolwich Arsenal | 2-1 | Newton Heath | W | Second Division |
30 Mar 1895 | Woolwich Arsenal | 3-2 | Newton Heath | W | Second Division |
13 Oct 1894 | Newton Heath | 3-3 | Woolwich Arsenal | D | Second Division |