England's reply to the El Classico!

This surely has to be England's reply to the El Classico! No doubts about it. Okay, its not exactly a "derby", but the football on display when these two teams go head to head, is levels above anywhere else!

Manchester United vs. Arsenal, the rivalry that once was.

Till a few weeks back, I thought that the rivalry between these 2 clubs was just because of the trophies. And its a safe bet that this was the opinion widely accepted, since they have been the 2 most successful teams in England for the past 2 decades.

However, while doing some research for this note, I stumbled upon the truth.

It all started with a penalty!

It was at Highbury, in an FA Cup tie, in April 1987. United were awarded a penalty, which Arsenal thought was unfair. Brain "Choccy" McClair sent the penalty in orbit, and the Arsenal team celebrated wildly. The rivalry had begun. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isj77IJNZ2g )

I grew up hating Arsenal. And I never thought it would change. I started watching football at a time when the United-Arsenal rivalry was at its peak. Since I fell in love with United at the very first sight, it was pretty much a given that it was hatred at first sight towards Arsenal for me!

So the rivalry started in 1987 with the penalty that McClair missed. The tension between these two teams grew exponentially every time they met. It probably reached an early peak when in 1990 at Old Trafford, all the 22 players on the pitch were involved in a brawl. It was ugly. The FA had not seen anything like this before. From fans, maybe. But these were 22 paid professional football players!

Arsenal were docked 2 points in the league and charged for failing to control their players. United were docked 1 point too.

Arsenal then appointed a promising French guy, by the name of Arsene Wenger as their manager, and the story between these two teams was about to take a whole new turn.

When asked about Arsenal's new manager, Ferguson said, "They say he's very intelligent, right? Speaks 5 languages! Well I have a 15 year old boy from Ivory Coast who can speak 5 languages!" Welcome to England, Mr Wenger.

Over the next few years, United and Arsenal became the main forces in England to reckon with, with Arsenal playing an important role, and helping United along, in breaking Liverpool's dominance over the league.

United and Arsenal shared the trophies, as the two managers worked year after year to undo each other's work, and mount a challenge which the other couldn't beat.

But the major blow to United perhaps came in 1998, when Arsenal did the league and FA Cup double. Sir Alex Ferguson couldn't stand this. Major changes were called for. As always, speculations about arrivals and departures at Old Trafford was rife. But inside Ferguson's mind, a storm was brewing. He made some astute signings, which others were unable to understand, and questioned Sir Alex's moves in the transfer market.

The likes of Dwight Yorke, Jesper Blomqiust, and Jaap Stam were brought in. Ferguson was going to do something, which Wenger would be unable to answer. Basking in the glory of his Double, and his small victory over his rivals, Wenger perhaps forgot the Ferguson was no normal man who would accept defeat. He didn't see it coming, what Ferguson was about to do.

In 1999, Manchester United did, what no other team had ever done. The whole world was stunned by the sheer brilliance of United. They were left speechless by our achievements.

In '99, United won the Treble. The English Premier League, The FA Cup, and the big one, The Euopean Champions League, which Wenger has failed to deliver till date.

The Promised Land was reached. Dreams were realised. The team was so overcome with emotions that when asked about how special it felt, Sir Alex wasn't able to come up with anything but, "Football, BLOODY HELL!"

United were named the team of the century. Mr. Wenger, please suck that.

And it was more special as United had defeated Arsenal in the semi-finals of the FA Cup that year, as they went on to win the lot. And it was in that semi-final that a certain player named Ryan Giggs score what is still widely regarded as the best goal ever scored. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quI_LkMj4HI )

You would perhaps expect a complimentary call of "congratulations" or atleast a "well done" from your rivals on your special feat. But no, Wenger once again proved that he was as bad a loser, as the world would ever see.

"Arsene Wenger disappoints me when he is reluctant to give Manchester United credit for what we have achieved. When Arsenal captured the Double in 1998 I held my hands up and praised them unreservedly... I suppose I will just have to accept that, between Old Trafford and Highbury, appreciation is pretty much a one-way street." - Ferguson later revealed in his autobiography.

Wenger wasn't winning any friends in England for sure. Even when Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005, even though they are our fierce rivals, Sir Alex was one of the first people to call up Rafa Benitez to congratulate him.

Time flew by, other managers came and went, what remained constant was the rivalry between the two teams, Arsene Wenger, and Sir Alex Ferguson.

It was in this period of time, that I really enjoyed the rivalry between the two sides, and perhaps it was this rivlary, that made me fall in love with football more that I would ever imagine. Players ready to rip off each other's head at first sight, thirsty for their opponent's blood.

2003/04 was arguably Wenger's favorite time in all his stay in England.

If United could achieve the Treble, Wenger replied with an unbeaten season. In 2003, Arsenal went the entire 38 league games without losing a single one. But what's funny is that even after being unbeaten, they failed to win the FA Cup, knocked out by United, and also were unable to win the Champions League.

But credit where its due. Well done Arsenal. They were named The Invincibles team.

It was a Ruud van Nistelrooy missed penalty in the last few minutes of the game between the 2 teams, which stopped United from defeating Arsenal, and allowed them to go on unbeaten. Arsenal celebrated like wild animals. 6 of their players were charged for improper conduct. Arsenal were fined for failing to control their players, once again.

Its a well known saying, "Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned!" Well, maybe they hadn't seen me during a United vs. Arsenal game. Pure venom, was what came out my mouth when I saw those 11 players in Arsenal kits.

The Captains of the two teams, Patrick Vieira, and Roy Keane, may have shared the same sentiments for each other!

Roll on next season, and any of the teams were still unable to unlock Arsenal. It was perhaps fitting that it would be United who would do that!

Arsenal visited United at Old Trafford for what would've been their 50th games unbeaten in the league. Their players seemed to get a bit over-cocky and had worn t-shirts saying "50 not-out" underneath their jerseys, planning that the entire team would reveal them infront of the crowd at Old Trafford.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Even God loves irony.

United were dominating the game, and by half-time, they were causing Arsenal a lot of problems. I had a feeling that this would be the game. I just didnt want to look naive, or else I would have phoned up all my fellow United-supporting friends.

Sir Alex later revealed in an interview, "In the tunnel Wenger was criticising my players, calling them cheats, so I told him to leave them alone and behave himself. He ran at me with hands raised saying 'what do you want to do about it?' It's a disgrace, but I don't expect Wenger to ever apologise, he's that type of person."

In the 2nd half, guess what? It was a Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty that put United in front. Words cannot describe how elated I felt at that moment. It was sweet revenge for Ruud, who had been subject to abuse from the Arsenal players in the corresponding fixture last season when he missed a penalty.

He celebrated the goal by running down towards the Stretford End, overcome with emotions. The celebration till date is my all time favorite goal celebration, well known among United fans as Ruud's Revenge Celebration!

Wayne Rooney sealed the game late into the 2nd half. 2-0 it was. Arsenal's invincible era had come to an end. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ttK_ThHXc&feature=related )

I still remember clearly, the next day when I went to school, I saw my mate Birju in the ground, we both had just entered the school-ground on our cycles. I shouted at him in joy from far, "2-0! 2-0! We won 2-0! Arsenal lost! We beat Arsenal!" And he yelled back at me, "I know! We won!!" Amazing feeling.

That was perhaps the last time when the tension between the two teams was so high.

Both the captains, Vieira and Keane, left at different times, for different clubs. Vieira off to Italy, Keano to Celtic, to spend the last few months of his career.

When asked about how they felt for each other, both told they missed the rivalry.

Vieira confessed that Paul Scholes and Roy Keane were the only two people in football he was actually afraid of. Keano took a jibe at Vieira when he said that he was just a hard guy on the pitch, while pretty much a sissy off it!

But when these two came face to face, it was war!

Vieira used aim at the United players who weren't physically dominating in nature. In 2004 in an FA Cup encounter at half-time, he ganged up on Gary Neville, cornering him in the tunnel. Keano being Captain Fantastic, dragged Vieira away physically. Vieira fled for his life. Keane chased him and the referees has to intervene. "I'll see you out there! I'll see you out there!" Keane shouted at Vieira. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKj8msoEKEo&feature=related )

See him out there he did. Keane completely owned Vieira on the pitch, United went on to win 4-2.

Whatever the reasons may have been, the relationship between these two teams is far from even a shadow of what it used to be. May be its because the emergence of Chelsea, funded by Abramovich's mega-bucks, and the charismatic Jose Mourinho, who provided a common target for Wenger and Sir Alex.

In 2005 and 2006, Chelsea won back to back league titles, and since then Arsenal have been nowhere near to winning it. It was United who responded to Chelsea's dominance, and became the only team to have a hattrick of EPL titles 2 times. We had responded just as true champions do!

Along with the rivalry between the clubs and the managers, my hatred for Arsenal has mellowed down too.

During the game when we ended their unbeaten run, Arsenal players had once again shown what a classless bunch of idiots they were. After the game, a pizza was hurled on Sir Alex, as he made his way into the tunnel. Total fucking disgrace. Its the greatest manager to have ever graced the Earth, we are talking about!

It was later revealed that the two players behind the classless act were Cesc Fabregas, who would later go on to be their captain, and that classless cunt Ashley Cole.

It was Cole who had convinced Fabregas to hurl the pizza.

Pure hatred emerged in my heart for them, all over again.

But as I grew up, I tried to observe from a logical point of view. Fabregas was just 16 back then, imbecile. Cole was a bonafide dickhead.

I tried to forgive Fabregas, but never will be able to forgive Cole.

And the fact that Fabregas personally called up Sir Alex to congatulate him when we won out record 18th league title, helped me to forgive him a bit more. And since then Fabregas has had only good things to say about our gaffer.

And perhaps dissapointingly, we have never seen the old, blood-thirsty form of rivalry between them ever since.

When we beat them 3-1 at the Emirates last year in the CL semis 2nd leg, Patrice Evra went on to say that it was a case of "men against boys."

I prayed, please God, let this be the point that ignites the old hatred. Only to be dissapointed. Somehow, for reasons I don't know, I miss it!

May be Sir Alex explains the reason for this when he said, "Back in the days we used to have players who were dripping with masculinity from every inch of their bodies. Players like Cantona, Irwin, Keane and Sparky, who would kill to defend thier team-mates! We dont have those sort of players now. Today we see players who pay thousands to go to saloons to keep their bodies shiny!"

Leave the rivalry, the relationship between the two managers has been surprisingly cordial of late!

Wenger revealed that when the 2 meet outside a footaball pitch, they don't fight, and the meetings are sometimes even funny!

Sir Alex personally asked the fans to put an end to the disgusting paedophile chant aimed at Wenger by a small section of our fans.

Good Lord, am I dreaming? Is this really possible? Sir Alex and Arsene Wenger not going for each other's throats?

Whatever the matters off the pitch may be, it has been United who have got the better off Arsenal on the last few occasions.

With United winning trophy after trophy, Arsenal seem to be a long way off from catching our fantastic record.

And infact its only Arsenal who I can imagine to have some sort of respect for, out of the other teams in the so called Big Four.

This is a story of two teams which has greatly influenced my life, and perhaps the lives of many other United fans.

Another thing which most of us may not know, is that the last game the Busby Babes played on English soil before making that fateful trip to Munich, was at Highbury.

Positive or negative, Arsenal will surley have a special place in every United fan's life.

This was my side of the United and Arsenal, the rivalry that once was.

(If you were in any way dissapointed with the note, please kindly forgive me, as I had so many things to write, it was difficult to place them properly, and limit the content to prevent it from getting too long. Cheers!)

P.S. I've included some videos for those who would like to relive those special moments, and also for those who haven't seem them before.