United have vanquished a fair few foes over the years but even Sir Alex lost one or two battles now and again.
A pre-ponytail David Seaman in goal. Then the mythical ‘flat back four’ of Lee Dixon, Steve Bould, Nigel Winterburn and captain fantastic himself Tony Adams. In front of one of the most rock-solid defences in English football history, the tenacity of Ray Parlour, the technical supremacy of Manu Petit and the all-action excellence of Patrick Vieira. And, to glaze the cherry upon this rather tasty cake, a strikeforce blessed with pace, poise and predatory instinct; Marc Overmars, Dennis Bergkamp and Nicholas Anelka.
Arsenal’s 1997/98 double winning vintage; not bad, we’re sure you’ll agree. But the best team in the Premier League era to emerge outside of the red half of Manchester? Gary Neville barely gives the notion a second thought.
“Arsenal are the best domestic team I’ve ever faced. The 1998 team, the double-winning team, were immense,” the former United captain told Sky Sports ahead of yet another massive clash between these time-honoured rivals on Saturday.
“It had everything you would want; power, strength, pace, organisation, good on set pieces, you couldn’t mess them around and they could play good football.”
The Gunners mowed down their Manchester challengers both home and away in Arsene Wenger’s second season at the helm, David Platt’s gorgeously glancing header at Highbury capping an all-time classic with a fitting conclusion in November before Overmars nabbed a win at Old Trafford in March. The title was Arsenal’s, albeit by a single point.
But the strongest side United faced in the Premier League era? We examine the other contenders.
Arsene’s Invincibles – 03/04
Arsene Wenger celebrates winning the Premier League title with Patrick Vieira at the end of their famous Invincibles season
Its thirteen long years since the red ribbons of Arsenal last adorned the Premier League trophy, making the memories of that glorious campaign somewhat bittersweet. This was Arsenal epitomised; the lavish languidity of Bergkamp, Robert Pires and the 30-goal phenomenon Thierry Henry balanced with the passion and experience of Vieira, Jens Lehman and Martin Keown.
26 wins, 12 draws, no defeats, they defeated Liverpool and Chelsea home and away on their way to becoming the first side to go unbeaten across an entire season since Preston North End in the 1880s. They’re probably the last, too.
The march of Mourinho – 04/05
A long time ago, in a faraway land, things were starting to get dicey for Harry Potter, James Blunt was professing his adoration for every female in the land, and Jose Mourinho was very much in his smirking pomp. Arsenal may have outscored them by 15, but this Chelsea team was an entirely different beast to the deposed Invincibles. This was a belligerent, hard-nosed unit, fortified by statistically the sturdiest defence in Premier League history.
If you were fortunate enough to bypass Claude Makelele, then give John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho the slip, the imperious presence of Petr Cech, 24 clean sheets and all, frequently proved an obstacle too far. Chelsea conceded just 15 times all season, a record that will take some beating.
The Red revolution – 08/09
Much to Gary Neville’s perpetual delight, Liverpool have quite a habit of painting themselves as the tragic nearly-men of English football. And, five years before Steven Gerrard’s boots slipped from underneath him to the mirth of all of Manchester, Rafael Benitez’s finished four points off the pace just two months after hammering United at Old Trafford.
Inspired by the red-hot Fernando Torres, a peaking Gerrard and the Premier League’s finest midfield partnership in Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, Liverpool’s penchant for high-octane attacking and dramatic comeback victories had shades of United’s late 90s pomp. Until it really mattered of course.
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