FA Cup Semi-Finals Week: Arsenal V Manchester United, 1999 (VIDEO)

WATCH Great FA Cup Semi-Finals: Giggs Tears Through Arsenal

Saturday makes it 13 years since not just one of the greatest FA Cup semi-finals, but one of the greatest football matches.

The irony behind Arsenal and Manchester United's battle in the 1999 last four replay is that it could have been avoided.

In the original fixture on Sunday 11 April, Roy Keane was the victim of one of the most baffling offside goals in living memory. Both sides eventually played out a goalless and tense 120 minutes at Villa Park.

Three days later and the duo reconvened at Aston Villa's ground for the final FA Cup replay. Arsenal were in red with United switching to white - mirroring the colours when the clubs met in the 1983 FA Cup semi-final at the same ground.

Gallery of Arsenal-United, 1999

Before the Premier League branched out into a full-blown brand, this was (and remains?) its greatest advert. Double winners Arsenal boasted Bergkamp, Vieira, Anelka and Overmars while treble-chasing United started Schmeichel, Stam, Keane and Beckham. Giggs, Yorke and Scholes all emerged from the bench.

Few games can claim to have possessed everything, but throughout 120 pulsating minutes, Arsenal-United did.

Spurned chances, great goalkeeping, a disallowed goal, a red card, a last-minute saved penalty and a wonder goal were some of the highlights during a breathless and frenetic game of English football.

Sit back and enjoy a comprehensive, but succinct, package.

Arsenal v Manchester United, 1999

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