An old rivalry will be renewed at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, where Manchester United and Arsenal engage in battle of the behemoths in this weekend’s Premier League main event.
The Red Devils are at risk of suffering back-to-back home defeats to the Gunners for the first time in the Premier League era on March 9, and their indifferent form of late will hardly raise expectations among fans.
Indeed, the hosts are sitting 14th in the Premier League table and could only draw 1-1 with Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, where they were arguably fortunate not to lose.
On the other side of the coin, Arsenal were utterly dominant in their 7-1 thrashing of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday, but Mikel Arteta‘s men have failed to score in their last two Premier League games and are all but consigned to another title-less year.
Ahead of Sunday’s mouthwatering match, Sports Mole looks at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between the two teams.
Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 242
Arsenal wins: 90
Draws: 50
Man Utd wins: 102
A historic fixture that has thrown up many a memorable moment – the 8-2 Theatre of Dreams destruction, Arsene Wenger in the Old Trafford stands, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira‘s tunnel bust-up and Sylvain Wiltord‘s iconic goal in 2002 to name but a few – Arsenal and Manchester United have now faced one another in 242 competitive matches in all tournaments.
The two Premier League powerhouses were then known as Newton Heath and Woolwich Arsenal when they first collided in the Second Division in 1894 – an engrossing 3-3 draw – which represents one of a half-century of stalemates between the two clubs.
Man United boast the bragging rights in terms of overall triumphs, though, overcoming Arsenal on 102 occasions and suffering defeat to their London counterparts 90 times, but the Gunners have had the Red Devils’ number more often than not recently.
Indeed, each of Arsenal’s last four Premier League matches against Man United has seen the Gunners emerge victorious, most recently a 2-0 Emirates success in December 2024 thanks to Jurrien Timber and William Saliba‘s goals from customary corner routines.
Away from the top flight, though, Ruben Amorim‘s 10-man Man United side sprung an Emirates surprise in the third round of the 2024-25 FA Cup, where Altay Bayindir saved two penalties as the Red Devils progressed on spot kicks following a 1-1 draw.
Mikel Arteta masterminded a double over Erik ten Hag in the 2023-24 campaign, though, firstly overseeing a 3-1 Emirates success thanks to a Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus late show before Arsenal rocked up to a rainy Old Trafford in May and came out on the right end of a 1-0 scoreline.
The Gunners also had an Eddie Nketiah double to thank for a 3-2 home win over Man United in January 2023, prior to which the Red Devils marched to their most recent success in this fixture in 90 minutes, a 3-1 Old Trafford triumph in September 2022.
No player enjoyed this battle of the behemoths more than Man United all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney, who scored 12 goals in meetings between Arsenal and the Red Devils, while David Herd -who played for both teams – netted 11 times.
Last 20 meetings
Jan 12, 2025: Arsenal 1-1 Man Utd (3-5 pens) (FA Cup Third Round)
Dec 04, 2024: Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd (Premier League)
May 12, 2024: Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Sep 03, 2023: Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd (Premier League)
Jan 22, 2023: Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd (Premier League)
Sep 04, 2022: Man Utd 3-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Apr 23, 2022: Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd (Premier League)
Dec 02, 2021: Man Utd 3-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
Jan 30, 2021: Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd (Premier League)
Nov 01, 2020: Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Jan 01, 2020: Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd (Premier League)
Sep 30, 2019: Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Mar 10, 2019: Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd (Premier League)
Jan 25, 2019: Arsenal 1-3 Man Utd (FA Cup Fourth Round)
Dec 05, 2018: Man Utd 2-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
Apr 29, 2018: Man Utd 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Dec 02, 2017: Arsenal 1-3 Man Utd (Premier League)
May 07, 2017: Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd (Premier League)
Nov 19, 2016: Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Feb 28, 2016: Man Utd 3-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
Last 10 Premier League meetings
Dec 04, 2024: Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd (Premier League)
May 12, 2024: Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Sep 03, 2023: Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd (Premier League)
Jan 22, 2023: Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd (Premier League)
Sep 04, 2022: Man Utd 3-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Apr 23, 2022: Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd (Premier League)
Dec 02, 2021: Man Utd 3-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
Jan 30, 2021: Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd (Premier League)
Nov 01, 2020: Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Jan 01, 2020: Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd (Premier League)
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