In recent years gone by, I have not exactly looked forward to the trip to Old Trafford. It is always a tough game, no matter the circumstances. But this year, I have a new-found sense of positivity towards this particular fixture.
Arsenal have been playing awesome stuff and will be buoyed by a heroic and historic victory in Dortmund, and Manchester United, for whatever reason (which I will discuss further at a later time), have not been their usual, ruthless selves.
Nevertheless, the history between the two clubs is undoubtedly fascinating, and have served up some true classics over the years. The Fergie vs. Wenger era may be over and it may have fizzled out a little due to Arsenal's lack of competitiveness, but certainly the early years of the intense Premier League tussle between the two heavyweights are what this fixture is remembered for, and Sunday's meeting is the biggest for a long time.
So, as the Moyes vs. Wenger era gets underway this weekend, I'm expressing my thoughts on this historic fixture as it enters a new chapter. Is this the return of the rivalry?
My first hope is that, with Arsenal suddenly becoming the force they are threatening to be, the sparkle that they have struggled to bring to this game in the very recent past, will return the edge to the match that it had like no other once again - and that's despite United's unfamiliar, if not unexpected, shaky start.
The 'sparkle' I spoke of earlier seemed to have coincided - by coincidence - to the departures of Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane, who both left their clubs in 2005. Their last match against each other was a fiery, ferocious 4-2 defeat for The Gunners at Highbury where they famously squared up in the tunnel.
The aforementioned tunnel was often the scene for chaos between the two clubs, where Fergie was the victim of a flailing pizza in the aftermath of what I consider to be a case of United literally kicking us off the park (and a side order of diving) to ensure our memorable unbeaten run came to a sour end.
Both clubs have enjoyed sweet, sweet moments against one another; United's best will most likely be the 8-2 and 6-1 drubbings - while Arsenal can always have the pleasure of reliving the moment they won the title off United, at United.
And for all the drama there has been the fair share of hiccups; ones that spring to mind are Fabien Barthez's double-gift to Thierry Henry at Highbury, and the day Ryan Giggs blazed over an open goal, Arsenal knocked United out the cup, and Fergie booted a boot into Becks' face. I was in stitches.
Unfortunately, I have struggled to bank a positive memory from this match since Thierry scored a header - yes, header - to win the game for us - and on my birthday back in 2007. Other happy moments have been somewhat tarnished - Samir Nasri's winning double in a year later is no longer something I look back on with true fondness, while Robin Van Persie's half-assist for Theo's opener back in April was fun while it lasted - until he scored a goal of his own.
It is rather fitting though, that one considerable happy memory in Aaron Ramsey's comeback winner in 2011 marked the beginning of his recovery from his terrible leg break, and as he finally discovers his true potential (barely anyone inside the Emirates thought he ever would), he can put his stamp on the fixture again, and in doing so, can hopefully once again set this match alight.
Come On You Reds!
Arsenal have been playing awesome stuff and will be buoyed by a heroic and historic victory in Dortmund, and Manchester United, for whatever reason (which I will discuss further at a later time), have not been their usual, ruthless selves.
Nevertheless, the history between the two clubs is undoubtedly fascinating, and have served up some true classics over the years. The Fergie vs. Wenger era may be over and it may have fizzled out a little due to Arsenal's lack of competitiveness, but certainly the early years of the intense Premier League tussle between the two heavyweights are what this fixture is remembered for, and Sunday's meeting is the biggest for a long time.
So, as the Moyes vs. Wenger era gets underway this weekend, I'm expressing my thoughts on this historic fixture as it enters a new chapter. Is this the return of the rivalry?
My first hope is that, with Arsenal suddenly becoming the force they are threatening to be, the sparkle that they have struggled to bring to this game in the very recent past, will return the edge to the match that it had like no other once again - and that's despite United's unfamiliar, if not unexpected, shaky start.
The 'sparkle' I spoke of earlier seemed to have coincided - by coincidence - to the departures of Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane, who both left their clubs in 2005. Their last match against each other was a fiery, ferocious 4-2 defeat for The Gunners at Highbury where they famously squared up in the tunnel.
The aforementioned tunnel was often the scene for chaos between the two clubs, where Fergie was the victim of a flailing pizza in the aftermath of what I consider to be a case of United literally kicking us off the park (and a side order of diving) to ensure our memorable unbeaten run came to a sour end.
Both clubs have enjoyed sweet, sweet moments against one another; United's best will most likely be the 8-2 and 6-1 drubbings - while Arsenal can always have the pleasure of reliving the moment they won the title off United, at United.
And for all the drama there has been the fair share of hiccups; ones that spring to mind are Fabien Barthez's double-gift to Thierry Henry at Highbury, and the day Ryan Giggs blazed over an open goal, Arsenal knocked United out the cup, and Fergie booted a boot into Becks' face. I was in stitches.
Unfortunately, I have struggled to bank a positive memory from this match since Thierry scored a header - yes, header - to win the game for us - and on my birthday back in 2007. Other happy moments have been somewhat tarnished - Samir Nasri's winning double in a year later is no longer something I look back on with true fondness, while Robin Van Persie's half-assist for Theo's opener back in April was fun while it lasted - until he scored a goal of his own.
It is rather fitting though, that one considerable happy memory in Aaron Ramsey's comeback winner in 2011 marked the beginning of his recovery from his terrible leg break, and as he finally discovers his true potential (barely anyone inside the Emirates thought he ever would), he can put his stamp on the fixture again, and in doing so, can hopefully once again set this match alight.
Come On You Reds!
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