Today marks nine years to the day since Manchester United’s 8-2 thrashing of Arsenal.
We’ve taken a look back at that famous day with some of our own observations…
United’s squad wasn’t that strong
Much is made of how weak Arsenal’s side was on this day, although that doesn’t offer a full explanation for their gutless collapse.
Looking back, United’s side wasn’t exactly stellar either.
Chris Smalling was at right back, with Phil Jones at centre half and United had very few problems up against Robin van Persie in attack.
Anderson and Tom Cleverley isn’t an all-time great United midfield, and Danny Welbeck spearheaded the attack.
What the game showed was the toughness, clarity of idea and physical strength United had under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The players themselves weren’t individually outstanding, but they had unity, purpose and were full of confidence.
Did United continue this freewheeling approach?
Despite its lack of standout attacking quality on paper, around the time of this game it looks as if Ferguson was building another free-scoring United side in the club’s very best traditions of youth and fearlessness.
United had already beaten Tottenham 3-0 at Old Trafford at this stage and went on to thump Chelsea 3-1 at home two games later.
Ferguson took the same approach into the home clash with Manchester City in October 2011, but the now infamous result appeared to convince him to take the team in a more experienced, safety-first direction.
Arguably, the 8-2 was one of the most recent teams a fearless United side ripped forward with abandon against an elite club, which is yet another reason to remember it so fondly.
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