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Arsenal travel to Manchester United this weekend for the teams' first meaningful encounter in nearly five years.
United are eight points adrift of Arsène Wenger's Premier League leaders and defeat could effectively dash their chances of a second successive title under two different managers.
David Moyes said earlier this season he was "getting to know" his players, but should have no issues remembering United and Arsenal's intense rivalry. For seven years, Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson's teams were the best in the country and even the rare 0-0s were controversial.
United vs Arsenal, 1997-2005
Soccer - Carling Premiership - Arsenal v Manchester United(01 of35)
Referee Martin Bodenham waves away Ian Wright, Arsenal after his clash Peter Schmeichel, Manchester United (credit:PA)
SOCCER Wright/Schmeichel(02 of35)
Arsenal's Dennis Bergkamp (hidden, 2nd left) holds back striker Ian Wright as referee Martin Bodenham remonstrates with him over a tackle on Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel (on floor). The incident happened during this evening's (Wednesday) Premier League match at Highbury. Manchester United won 2-1. Photo by Tony Harris/PA. SEE PA STORY SOCCER Arsenal. (credit:PA)
Marc Overmars(03 of35)
14 Mar 1998: Marc Overmars of Arsenal scores the winner against Manchester United during the FA Carling Premiership match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. Arsenal won 1-0. \ Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill /Allsport (credit:Getty Images)
FA Cup semi-final Roy Keane(04 of35)
11 Apr 1999: Manchester United captain Roy Keane leads the protests against the assistant referee after his goal is disallowed for off-side during the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. The game ended 0-0 after extra-time. \ Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill /Allsport (credit:Getty Images)
Vivas gets red card/FA cup semi(05 of35)
This picture can only be used within the context of an editorial feature. Arsenal's Nelson Vivas gets a red card for a second bookable offence during the FA Cup semi-final clash against Manchester United at Villa Park. Final score 0-0. (credit:PA)
Ryan Giggs of Manchester United(06 of35)
14 Apr 1999: Ryan Giggs of Manchester United beats the despairing lunge of Tony Adams of Arsenal to drive the ball past David Seaman to score the winner in the FA Cup Semi Final match played at Villa Park in Birmingham. Manchester United won the game 2-1 after extra-time. \ Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill /Allsport (credit:Getty Images)
ManU/Arsenal Ferguson/bench(07 of35)
This picture may only be used in the context of an editorial feature. The Man United bench erupt after Ryan Giggs scores in extra-time during the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal, at Villa Park, guaranteeing United's place in the final, against Newcastle. (credit:PA)
ManU/fans celebration(08 of35)
This picture may only be used in the context of an editorial feature. Manchester United players are mobbed by fans after Ryan Giggs' extra time winner against Arsenal, at Villa Park. Man Utd go on to face Newcastle in the FA Cup Final. (credit:PA)
ManU/Arsenal fans fight(09 of35)
This picture may only be used in the context of an editorial feature. Manchester United and Arsenal fans fight after the final whistle of the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park. United won the tie 2-1, with an extra-time goal by Ryan Giggs. (credit:PA)
Arsenal/United/Keane/Vieira(10 of35)
This picture can only be used within the context of an editorial feature. Roy Keane of Manchester United and Arsenal's Patrick Vieira come to blows during an FA Premiership football match at Arsenal's Highbury ground. (credit:PA)
Roy Keane(11 of35)
22 Aug 1999: Roy Keane of Manchester United clashes with Patrick Vieira of Arsenal during the FA Carling Premiership match against Arsenal played at Highbury in London, England. The match finished in a 2-1 win to Manchester United. \ Mandatory Credit:Clive Brunskill /Allsport (credit:Getty Images)
Roy Keane(12 of35)
22 Aug 1999: Roy Keane of Manchester United is spoken to by the referee as tempers flare during the FA Carling Premiership match against Arsenal played at Highbury in London, England. The match finished in a 2-1 win to Manchester United. \ Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill /Allsport (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal v Man Utd(13 of35)
1 Oct 2000: Thierry Henry of Arsenal consoles Fabien Barthez of Manchester United after the FA Carling Premiership game between Arsenal and Manchester United at Highbury in London. Mandatory Credit: Graham Chadwick/ALLSPORT (credit:Getty Images)
Man Utd v Arsenal(14 of35)
25 Feb 2001: Dwight Yorke of Man Utd celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Manchester United v Arsenal FA Carling Premiership match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Mandatory Credit: Gary M. Prior/ALLSPORT (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal v Manchester(15 of35)
25 Nov 2001: Thierry Henry of Arsenal beats Manchester Keeper Fabien Barthez during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Highbury, London. Mandatory Credit: Phil Cole/ALLSPORT (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal celebrate title(16 of35)
MANCHESTER - MAY 8: Arsenal players celebrate winning the league title after the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Manchester United and Arsenal played at Old Trafford, in Manchester, England on May 8, 2002. Arsenal won the match 1-0 to clinch the league title. DIGITAL IMAGE. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ruud van Nistelrooy of Manchester United argues with the referee Jeff Winter as a brawl breaks out(17 of35)
MANCHESTER - FEBRUARY 15: Ruud van Nistelrooy of Manchester United argues with the referee Jeff Winter as a brawl breaks out during the FA Cup fifth round match between Manchester United and Arsenal held on February 15, 2003 at Old Trafford, in Manchester, England. Arsenal won the match 2-0. (Photo by Gary M. Prior/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - FA Barclaycard Premiership - Arsenal v Manchester United(18 of35)
Arsenal's Sol Campbell argues with Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Campbell is sent off for the use of an elbow on Solskjaer (credit:PA)
Arsenal's Francis Jeffers lands on Manch(19 of35)
Arsenal's Francis Jeffers lands on Manchester United's Philip Neville after a hard tackle which resulted in a red card for Jeffers during the FA Community Shield soccer match 10 August, 2003 in Cardiff, Wales, UK. Manchester United and Arsenal tied one goal each with Manchester United winning on penalty kicks 5-4. AFP PHOTO/JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal's French Patrick Vieira (C) is r(20 of35)
Arsenal's French Patrick Vieira (C) is restrained by Manchester United players to keep him away from Ruud van Nistelrooy (2nd L) after an altercation between them lead to Vieira's second red card and sending off during Barclaycard Premiership at Old Trafford, in Manchester, 21 September 2003. AFP Photo Paul Barker (Photo credit should read PAUL BARKER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Man Utd v Arsenal(21 of35)
Arsenal's Patrick Vieira is shown the red card by referee Steve Bennett following an incident with Manchester United's Ruud Van Nistelrooy during their FA Barclaycard Premiership match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Manchester United drew 0-0 with Arsenal. THIS PICTURE CAN ONLY BE USED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF AN EDITORIAL FEATURE. NO WEBSITE/INTERNET USE UNLESS SITE IS REGISTERED WITH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PREMIER LEAGUE. (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Barclaycard Premiership - Manchester United v Arsenal(22 of35)
Arsenal's Jens Lehmann, Ray Parlour and Patrick Vieira argue with referee Steve Bennett after the red card to Vieira (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Barclaycard Premiership - Manchester United v Arsenal(23 of35)
Arsenal's Martin Keown lets Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy know how he feels after van Nistelrooy missed a penalty (credit:PA)
Man Utd v Arsenal(24 of35)
Arsenal's Martin Keown (third right) mocks Manchester United's Ruud Van Nistelrooy (second right) after his penalty miss, at the end of the FA Barclaycard Premiership match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Manchester United drew 0-0 with Arsenal. 30/10/03: Arsenal players Lauren and Martin Keown were hit with four and three-match suspensions and 40,000 and 20,000 fines respectively, as the Football Association meted out punishment for the ugly scenes at the end of Arsenal's goalless draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford. Ray Parlour has received a one-match suspension and a 10,000 fine. THIS PICTURE CAN ONLY BE USED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF AN EDITORIAL FEATURE. NO WEBSITE/INTERNET USE UNLESS SITE IS REGISTERED WITH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PREMIER LEAGUE. (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Barclaycard Premiership - Manchester United v Arsenal(25 of35)
Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy is pushed in the back by Arsenal's Lauren (second left) as tensions run high at the end of the match (l-r Kolo Toure, Lauren, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ray Parlour, Martin Keown and Ashley Cole) (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Barclaycard Premiership - Manchester United v Arsenal(26 of35)
Manchester United's Gary Neville (l) and Arsenal's Martin Keown come to blows (credit:PA)
Arsenal v Manchester United(27 of35)
LONDON - MARCH 28: Manager Arsene Wenger of Arsenal argues with manager Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Highbury on March 28, 2004 in London. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - AXA FA Cup - Semi Final - Arsenal v Manchester United(28 of35)
Manchester United's Roy Keane stands over a stricken Robert Pires (floor) of Arsenal (credit:PA)
Manchester United's Paul Scholes celbrat(29 of35)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Manchester United's Paul Scholes celbrate his goal recieving abuse from Arsenal fans during their FA Cup semi-final clash at Villa park in Birmingham, 03 April 2004.Manchester United defeated Arsenal 1-0 to reach the FA cup final being played 22 May. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN - - No telcos,website use to description of license with FAPL on, www.faplweb.com - - (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - FA Barclays Premiership - Manchester United v Arsenal(30 of35)
Manchester United's Gary Neville slides in on Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes (credit:PA)
Manchester United's Ruud Van Nistelrooy(31 of35)
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM: Manchester United's Ruud Van Nistelrooy celebrates scoring a penalty kick against Arsenal during their Premiership football game at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, 24 October, 2004. Manchester won 2-0. UK OUT AFP PHOTO/MAGI HAROUN NO TELCOS, WEBSITES SUBJECT TO DESCRIPTION OF LICENCE WITH FAPL AT WWW.FAPLWEB.COM (Photo credit should read MAGI HAROUN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal v Manchester United(32 of35)
LONDON - FEBRUARY 1: Patrick Vieira of Arsenal lies on the ground while Ryan Giggs of Manchester United looks down at him during the Barclays Premiership match between Arsenal and Manchester United on February 1, 2005 at Highbury in London, England. (Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Soccer - FA Barclays Premiership - Arsenal v Manchester United - Highbury(33 of35)
Manchester United's John O'Shea (front) is congratulated by Roy Keane (top). (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Cup - Final - Arsenal v Manchester United - Millennium Stadium(34 of35)
Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes is shown the red card (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Cup - Final - Arsenal v Manchester United - Millennium Stadium(35 of35)
Arsenal's Patrick Vieira (R) is embraced by his team mates after scoring the winning penalty. (credit:PA)