Manchester United and Arsenal are set to lock horns in the Premier League this Sunday, and in this instance, one of the teams is a clear favourite.
The Red Devils are currently sitting 14th in the Premier League table, while the Gunners are in second place and not mathematically out of the title race.
Indeed, a fair few Manchester United fans are now dreading the prospect of facing an Arsenal side that just ran out 7-1 winners over PSV in the Champions League.
Manchester United and Arsenal were more evenly matched in years gone by, and there were times when the Red Devils were much better than the Gunners.
Indeed, there was one particular game between the two sides 14 years ago that could’ve been considered Arsenal’s lowest ebb.
However, said defeat set things in motion that can be said to have led to Arsenal becoming the force they are today.
Arsenal’s lowest ebb as Manchester United ran out 8-2 winners in 2011
Rewind the clock back to 28 August 2011, when Manchester United hosted Arsenal at Old Trafford in their third matchday of the 2011/12 Premier League season.
The Red Devils were reigning champions and had won their first two league games of the new campaign.
Meanwhile, the Gunners – who had finished fourth in 2010/11 – had picked up just one point from their opening two league fixtures.
Man United ended up destroying Arsenal as they led 3-1 at half time before firing in another five in the second half for an 8-2 thrashing of the Gunners.
Wayne Rooney scored the sixth hat-trick of his Red Devils career, Ashley Young netted a brace, and Danny Welbeck, Nani and Park Ji-sung also got on the scoresheet.
Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie scored what turned out to be mere consolations for Arsenal.
It was Arsenal’s heaviest league defeat since 1927 when they lost 7–0 to West Ham in the old First Division.
It was also the first time they had conceded eight goals in a game since 1896, when they lost 8–0 to Loughborough in the old Second Division.
What Arsenal did that ended up turning them into the force they are today
The humiliating defeat prompted Arsene Wenger to delve into the transfer market for a number of late signings.
Two of those signings were midfielder Mikel Arteta and defender Per Mertesacker.
Both turned out to be shrewd signings for Arsenal, but it’s their impact after hanging up their boots that is still felt today.
Arteta would retire at Arsenal in 2014 aged 32 after making 150 appearances for the Gunners.
He moved to Manchester City to become Pep Guardiola’s assistant that same year before taking the reins at Arsenal in 2019 after Unai Emery’s sacking.
Mertesacker would also retire at the Emirates Stadium in 2018 after playing 221 times for the North Londoners.
He became the club’s academy manager that same year, and has seen the likes of Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly break into the first team under his stewardship.
Arteta and Mertesacker have been crucial in transforming Arsenal from a shadow of their former selves to one of England’s best teams, and with a brilliant academy to boot.
Had Man United not thrashed Arsenal in August 2011, then Wenger may not have signed Arteta and Mertesacker.
Without this association, they may not have returned to the Emirates Stadium after hanging up their boots, and the Gunners may be in a different place right now.
