Republik Of Mancunia: A Manchester United Blog
Republik Of Mancunia: A Manchester United Blog
The rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal in the late 90s and early 00s was the greatest the Premier League has ever seen. There was real hatred between the players, the managers and the fans.
Later this month a book documenting the ins and outs of this rivalry will be published, The Greatest Rivalry: Arsenal, Manchester United and the Battle that Defined an Era by Dominic Hougham. You can pre-order it now.
The author has spoken to RoM about the rivalry, what happened in the tunnel at Old Trafford when we ended their unbeaten run, the change in feelings between the managers, and the best players on each team.
Ferguson and Wenger really seemed to hate each other for years but now they speak of each other warmly and with respect. What changed?
With both overseeing the two greatest Premier League teams of the era, it is only natural that enmity would develop. If you recall, Ferguson had come to United and almost lost his job as supporters got frustrated with a lack of immediate success. But he had overcome that, delivered silverware, and overseen the shedding off Dalglish at Blackburn and Keegan at Newcastle. It must have felt to him that United had no more domestic competition to worry about. And then comes along this Frenchman from the Japanese league with a new philosophy on the game. So, in one corner you have an old-school, gritty Scotsman who has become top dog while in the other you have this modern, urbane Frenchman waltzing into English football with little track record. Throw in seasons of intense competition, various mind-games and accusations along with two teams that genuinely do not like each other and of course tensions rise, even boiling over at times.
That is natural in the heat of battle. But time mellows a relationship. I believe they came to appreciate the competition and realized that it made life more interesting than simple domination. The existence of both made each manager push himself and his team harder, it provided motivation and a target. It kept both of them on their toes, always focusing on how to make their respective teams better. For both of them, this period was probably the highlight of their careers and so naturally they think back to it fondly. And some of their antics which seemed like mutual dislike at the time seem relatively mild now compared to the likes of, for example, Mourinho or Simeone.
For me, one of my favourite moments discussed in The Greatest Rivalry is when Wenger oversees his final Arsenal v United clash at Old Trafford in April 2018. The United fans give him a standing ovation while Ferguson comes onto the pitch, all smiles and laughter as he presents a vase to Wenger. Ferguson says of their rivalry, “virtually every game we played against Arsenal, there was a real edge to the match. There were confrontations, because there were two teams and two managers battling for one award: the Premier League. In my time, we had a few arguments, but I always did really respect the man because he did a fantastic job at his club.” Wenger returns the compliment. “It’s like two boxers; you fight like mad and go the distance together. At the end of the day, you have respect and it will be a great opportunity to meet with him, share a good bottle of wine and memories of our old battles.”
Like all great rivalries, eventually they realized how they both needed one another to achieve true greatness. And like all great rivals, they love to reminisce over old war stories.
What do you think was the greatest United vs Arsenal game during this time of peak rivalry?
There are definitely no shortage of candidates, but if I had to pick one, I would stump for the FA Cup Semi-Final Replay in April 1999. It had everything a football fan wants from a game; drama, tension, controversy, and a moment that stays seared in your memory for ever. For starters it was a midweek game, and maybe it is just me, but I always feel that midweek games under the lights have an added frisson that makes them special. The game did not take long to get going with Beckham scoring after 17 minutes, ending eleven and a half hours of Arsenal not conceding a goal. Following that came the spiciness, as Stam, Keown, Keane and Beckham all received yellow cards, following the tradition of bad blood between these two teams during this time. Later come the substitutions that make such a difference; two very similar players coming on in the form of Giggs and Overmars to provide speed and width. The match swings back and forth before Bergkamp hits a shot from 35 yards that deflects in off Stam.
There then follows 20 minutes of drama. Firstly, Arsenal almost immediately regain the lead through Anelka, celebrating with fans before the linesman’s flag denies them. Then Keane sees red for a second yellow following a lunge on Overmars. Suddenly United are faced with a one-man disadvantage, and you feel playing for extra-time is their best ploy. And they are so close, until Phil Neville brings down Parlour in stoppage time. And you think, this is it, surely…United have blown it in the 91st minute. Bergkamp places the ball and most fans can hardly watch. But big Peter Schmeichel makes the save and everyone can breathe again. Still, United now face another 30 minutes with ten men against a rampant Arsenal team. They can’t hold on, can they?
Arsenal dominate the first half of extra time but Schmeichel is still performing heroics. And as we start the second half of extra-time, you are thinking that United might be able to get this to penalties, after which who knows what may happen. And then Vieira underhits a pass in the United half and Giggs picks up the loose ball. And the rest, as they say, is history. Everyone who watched the game was mesmerized by what occurs next. The mazy run, the vicious shot from a narrow angle, the shirt being whipped around his head. Eleven touches, four players beaten. One of the most iconic and dramatic goals in FA Cup history. And then the final whistle, Ferguson hugging McClaren while Giggs is submerged in a sea of supporters.
Gary Neville described it as the best game of football he ever played in. As a neutral, I was enthralled that night so I can only imagine what it was like as a United fan, going through every emotion over those 120 minutes. It had everything. Of course, what makes it even more special in hindsight is that it is a crucial part of the 1999 treble. If Bergkamp scores, United are not just eliminated from the FA Cup but the treble dream is over. With the 1999 treble becoming one of the most storied chapters in United’s illustrious history, the FA Cup Semi-Final Replay grows in stature. But I can safely say that, having rewatched it when writing The Greatest Rivalry, it still holds up as a classic and still gives you goosebumps. The second Giggs picks up that ball, the hair stands up on your neck in anticipation.
What would be your United Arsenal XI from that time?
Really tough call as we are talking about nine seasons and some amazing players…but I’ll go with the following as my humble attempt. I’m sure you could ask ten different people and get ten different answers. The book covers 1996 to 2005 so that is the period I have used:
United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Irwin, Stam, P Neville, Beckham, Butt, Keane, Giggs, Solskjaer, van Nistelrooy
Ronaldo joins in 2003, so he is close to making the cut, while Cantona leaves early in the period and so also just misses out.
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Adams, Ashley Cole, Vieira, Ljungberg, Parlour, Bergkamp, Henry, Wright
Winterburn and Overmars would also be very close to selection…almost a toss-up between Overmars and Parlour but I feel Parlour was an underappreciated stalwart of that era for Arsenal.
Now if you are asking me to merge those into a combined XI, wow, that is tricky. But I’ll have a go…just preparing myself for the backlash…
Combined XI: Schmeichel, Dixon, Stam, Adams, G Neville, Vieira, Keane, Beckham, Bergkamp, van Nistelrooy, Henry.
I make that 6 United and 5 Arsenal. Interestingly enough, there was a suggestion at one point that United might buy Vieira, and so the combination of himself and Keane could have happened. When asked about this in 2019, Keane came out with a classic response. “There was talk about Patrick [going to United], but I don’t think he would have got into the United team. He would’ve had to have been a squad player and I don’t think he would’ve been satisfied with that.” A great what-if to imagine.
What really happened in the tunnel?
As the book describes, there are slightly differing accounts depending upon which player is asked. The footage at the time shows Vieira being shepherded to the side by teammates, Bergkamp attempting to calm him. Keane then comes into view, angrily pointing at Vieira while yelling “let’s see you out there then” as referee Graham Poll tries to calm the situation. And that is all viewers witness, with the commentators also somewhat baffled.
Asked about it immediately after the match, Keane gave his version. “I don’t want to go into too much detail but Patrick Vieira is 6 foot 4, starts having a go at Gary Neville, I said come and have a go at me. Simple as that. If players want to intimidate some of my teammates then let’s have a go at some of the other players. They think Gary Neville is an easy target but I’m not having it”.
In 2017, Neville discussed the incident with Soccer AM. “I could hear these footsteps behind me and Vieira shouting, ‘Neville! Neville! You’re not going to kick our players out on this pitch today,’” he recalled. “Roy obviously turned back, heard him and started having a go at him. He (Vieira) sort of squirted his water bottle towards Roy, then all hell broke loose.”
But there have also been other versions told. In an interview with The Times, Pires claims that he was responsible for the bust-up. “Gary Neville arrived and barged into me. I reacted in French because I was annoyed. It starts kicking off and at that point, Patrick arrives. He said to him, ‘You speak too much, you. Shut up.’ At that moment, Keane arrives. And he goes, ‘You talk too much as well. I’ll see you on the pitch.’”
The ITV documentary ‘Keane and Vieira – the Best of Enemies’ revealed more information in an interview with Vieira. According to him, “I started it. I was cool, I was really calm, I was smiling at him – and then he lost it. When we played at Old Trafford his (Gary Neville’s) tackling was flying in on Robert Pires, and he was doing it on purpose, and I said, ‘Listen, we are not at Old Trafford here, this is Highbury’.’” Keane then added more details from his perspective. “When we were going out for the start of the game I had forgotten my armband, and when I came out I had seen you at the top of the tunnel having a go at Gary. What really annoyed me that night was that you were picking on Gary, you were almost picking on the weakest link, so that’s what got my back up.”
So take your pick from that! But it definitely involved Gary Neville, Vieira, and Keane…and perhaps Pires.
Some people have argued City vs Liverpool of recent years is the greatest PL rivalry. Why are they wrong?
Okay, let’s get this into proper perspective. In 2019 and 2020, City and Liverpool did both finish first and second in the Premier league, with City taking the 2019 title and Liverpool the 2020 one. But since then, they have only finished first and second in 2022. So, if you look at the last eight seasons, there are only three where the two teams dominated the top spots. Also, over that time, the two managers have not remained constant throughout. Of course, Guardiola has been there the whole time, but Liverpool have had both Klopp and Slot. And the rivalry has been comparatively one-sided…across those eight seasons City have won five titles compared to Liverpool’s two.
Now compare that to the nine seasons covered in The Greatest Rivalry (1996/97 to 2004/05). During that time, both clubs were managed by the same manager throughout. For United, you had Ferguson, the gritty Scotsman who had finally delivered the holy grail of a league title and seemed to have English domination sewn up with the end of Dalglish at Blackburn and Keegan at Newcastle. For Arsenal, you had what seemed the opposite; a relatively unknown French manager from the Japanese league who looked like a professor. They say styles make fights and it was the characters of these two that made the era so entertaining. And from the moment Wenger arrives, these two teams seem locked in an eternal battle for supremacy over the following seasons. United win five titles, Arsenal win three. Between them they win six FA Cups. No-one can touch both teams domestically. But more than that, it was a rivalry that had true needle, much more so than Liverpool and City. When you think back to all the clashes; Wright and Schmeichel, Keane and Vieira, van Nistelrooy and Keown…these were two teams that truly disliked each other, and that made it all the more entertaining for fans. Each game seemed to be a seismic battle. I would argue that more games from that era have gone down in the memory as true Premier League classics; Overmars and Wiltord scoring at Old Trafford, that FA Cup semi-final replay, the Battle of the Buffet, United 6, Arsenal 1. And likewise, so many moments such as Gigg’s goal, Henry’s volley, the Van Nistelrooy penalty, tunnel incidents at both grounds. It is the combination of two all-time great managers, two fantastic, dominating teams with a true dislike for each other and so many iconic moments and matches that, to me, make it a greater rivalry than the recent Liverpool/City one. At least I hope so, otherwise I’ve written the wrong book!