【CLASSIC】 Arsenal vs. Man United | EPL 1997/98 - Extended Highllights
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00:00Arsenal and Manchester United
00:28Matches in the late 1990s usually had a strong bearing on who would be picking up the Premiership
00:33title come the end of the season.
00:36This encounter in November 1997 was no different, with United in first place prior to the game
00:42and Arsenal third.
00:44United held a better record in the Premier League over their north London hosts, Arsenal
00:49had only won one of ten Premiership meetings between the two sides.
00:54The Gunners had lost 3-0 at Derby a few days earlier, and Arsene Wenger made two changes
00:58from that side.
01:00In came Gilles Grimondi and Mark Overmars.
01:03A lack of goals had been the Gunners' problem.
01:05They'd failed to score in their previous three Premiership matches.
01:10United keeper Peter Schmeichel was a major obstacle as they looked to end that goal drought.
01:15In contrast, Alex Ferguson's team couldn't stop scoring.
01:18They'd netted 13 times in their last two Premier League games.
01:21There was one change from the side that had trounced Sheffield Wednesday 6-1, Ryan Giggs
01:26replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
01:28Plenty of experience and tension on the Gunners' bench, your match commentator is John Champion.
01:35A Premier League summit meeting at Highbrick, and given the recent history between these
01:41two sides, who on occasion have been more like warring factions, don't dare take your
01:47eyes off this one.
01:50Full house at just over 38,000, every ticket sold a month ago.
01:56Martin Bodnum will need to be on alert for this game.
02:03No free-kick this time.
02:05And here's Overmars.
02:08There's an attempt by Beckham to bring him down.
02:11Challengers already flying in.
02:15Setting the probable tone for the next 90 minutes.
02:19Beckham's free-kick.
02:29To Philip Neville.
02:35Ricky Buck, tangling with Platt, and it comes to Scholes.
02:40Third, playing first.
02:44Third of the way into the season.
02:47And at the moment, a four-point gap between the sides in favour of Manchester United.
02:54Whose only Premier League defeat so far came last month at Elland Road.
03:03In prime goal-scoring form, having bagged 13 in their last two league games.
03:08Seven against Barnsley, six against Sheffield Wednesday.
03:13At Arsenal, a different proposition altogether, and here's Overmars.
03:19Comes to Anelka.
03:21And Anelka has a goal and scores!
03:2818 years young.
03:33How many more there may be in the future is a matter for debate,
03:37but that is Nicola Anelka's first goal for Arsenal.
03:43The player spirited away from Paris Saint-Germain
03:47by the Gunners' French manager Arsene Wenger,
03:50scores a truly memorable goal.
03:55Vindication.
04:01A hybrid choir in rare good voice.
04:07Void by the manner of Anelka's introduction.
04:13Good at Neville.
04:15Certainly a stunner for Manchester United.
04:17Winterburn's header.
04:21Now it's Beckham.
04:24Scoles.
04:27Ballester.
04:28Showed too much of it to Ian Wright, and off goes Anelka,
04:31who's got such pace, but not enough power to beat Schmeichel that time.
04:36Inside.
04:41Glenn Hoddle, wishing that Anelka had been born in England.
04:49Beckham.
04:52Cole stepped over the ball.
04:55And it's with Arsenal.
04:58Not for long.
04:59Scheringham.
05:01Cole.
05:02Two of them combining, even though they don't speak.
05:07Scheringham.
05:10Alec Kirk's intent that his two strikers are not on the best of terms off the field,
05:15because on it they know precisely what each other is going to do next.
05:23Kala.
05:27Right inside him.
05:31Deflection on the shot, comes out to Platt.
05:34Anelka.
05:37Down, not the net, but the clock end.
05:42Promises to be a busy day for Peter Schmeichel.
05:45Beaten once already.
05:47And constantly in employment.
05:52This time, though.
05:54Having made the initial save, he wasn't called upon to make a second one.
06:04Edickson.
06:06He's been through all the hullabaloo of games against Manchester United many times before.
06:14Platt.
06:18Winterburn.
06:23Neville's header.
06:30Manchester United's record this season, eight wins, four draws, just one defeat.
06:3629 goals for and only seven against before today.
06:43They're under the cosh here, all right.
06:50Kala to take.
06:52Adams near post.
06:57Comes out to Patrick Vieira.
07:01That's another really special goal.
07:05It's another Frenchman.
07:09And Arsenal lead 2-0.
07:15That is a cracker from Vieira.
07:17His first of the season, and he may not bag a better one.
07:23Swerve as much as power, defeating Schmeichel.
07:29Pallister.
07:31He's not looked to his normal self, Gary Pallister, today.
07:37Platt's given it away, here's Andy Cole.
07:40Plopped out of the air by Seaman.
07:46He's not the only Arsenal man smiling right now.
07:57Henningberg.
08:01The chest of Sheringham to Giggs.
08:04Cole to his right, Giggs goes alone.
08:15Pallister.
08:19One by Sheringham.
08:21Giggs.
08:23One back by Parler.
08:31Philip Neville.
08:33Scholes.
08:37It's good work by Paul Scholes.
08:41Beckham.
08:42Cole.
08:45Gary Neville.
08:47And Sheringham!
08:49Paul's run back for Manchester United.
08:55And having only recently departed Tottenham Hotspur,
08:59it's a moment he will particularly savour.
09:04His seventh goal in just 15 games since the transfer from White, aren't they?
09:13Well found by Gary Neville.
09:21And Pallister has gone down and stayed down.
09:25I have a horrible feeling it's that back complaint again.
09:30He's got this ongoing sciatic problem that flares up from time to time.
09:42He slid in to try and collect the ball and you could already see the pain etched across his face.
09:49So debilitating.
09:55He's not been moving freely.
10:00Patrick Vieira, the scorer of that stunning goal,
10:03being attended to by Gary Lewin.
10:05But his problems as nothing compared to those of Gary Pallister.
10:09And Alec Ferguson is saying,
10:10do we need to make a change?
10:12And the answer very evidently is yes.
10:16Unfortunately they have a ready-made replacement in the Norwegian,
10:19Ronny Jonsson.
10:24It's touch.
10:47And Sheridan scores again.
10:51And this game is brimful of special goals.
10:55It's a new batch for him.
10:58But it's a club he's committed to.
11:00And a cause he believes in.
11:11What a first half here.
11:14Two up to 2-2.
11:16Arsenal peg back.
11:17Scholes goes down.
11:19And it's a goal.
11:21And it's a goal.
11:22A peg back.
11:23Scholes goes down.
11:25Martin Bobnum says no.
11:27Winterburn was the defender.
11:30And I think you can take it that Manchester United's manager
11:33is not in agreement with the referee.
11:38And that's why.
11:39There was no flag from the official on the far side, which might have helped Martin Bodnum
11:57out.
11:59Arguably, he had a better view than the referee.
12:04Picked off by Dixon.
12:10Nicky Buck penalised.
12:15And Arsenal keen to get on with it.
12:19Kala.
12:21Lukaku.
12:22And the cross headed behind by Scoles.
12:29There's a terrific ebb and flow to this contest.
12:32Arsenal so dominant in the opening half hour.
12:36Manchester United have scored twice in eight minutes.
12:40And now with half-time approaching, Arsenal sense an opportunity to regain the lead.
12:48Winterburn's got a problem.
12:52I have a feeling something may have been thrown.
12:55He's right in front of the Manchester United supporters.
13:00And the referee, Martin Bodnum, is coming across.
13:05Winterburn doesn't seem keen to make a fuss.
13:18And it's a good delivery, and Schmeichel missed it!
13:23The referee has given a free kick in Manchester United's favour.
13:29But for a goalkeeper, 34 next week, who is used to dominating his penalty area,
13:35it was a very uncertain moment. The free kick was for handball.
13:44By Ian Wright.
13:46The referee's been for words with the fourth official just to report the object that was thrown
13:51from the clock end.
13:54Much more for Manchester United to smile about now.
14:00Something will change the mood in the dressing room at half-time, which it now is.
14:06Classical first half. Arsenal two to the gut through Anelka and Vieira.
14:11Manchester United hitting back strongly through the recently departed from Tottenham striker,
14:16Teddy Sheringham. So he'll have enjoyed those two moments. It is 2-2.
14:52And silky smooth finishes.
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15:37I love that just-washed fairy freshness. I just don't want it to fade.
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16:00You should assign me control of your stock.
16:02I have to have all the cards in my hand.
16:05Well, half the cards are in my hand.
16:08What do you want me to say? I must ask my wife for permission?
16:11Yes, you can say that.
16:15And so, for our son, for Ferrari.
16:20Go beat the hell out of them.
16:50It's enormously difficult to predict which way this game is going to swing next.
16:55Here's a nelker for Arsenal.
16:58Round to Henningberg, and Nicky Buck completes the clearance.
17:10Arsenal's defeat at Derby.
17:13And it's a draw for Arsenal.
17:16Arsenal's defeat at Derby.
17:19It was their first in the Premier League this season, and it came in their 13th game.
17:25To date they've failed to score in three consecutive Premier League games,
17:28which is almost unheard of for them.
17:36Right.
17:38Right.
17:44But...
17:48There's a little bit of dismay from Teddy Sheringham
17:50that Nicky Buck decided to have a pop from there.
17:56Sheringham was available, but ignored.
18:03Dixon.
18:05Sent tumbling by Giggs.
18:15Ten-year age gap between the two of them.
18:21And applause for Nigel Winterburn as the doughty full-back
18:24goes across to take this.
18:26Adams has gone, as is his habit, towards the near post.
18:29Schmeichel comes and misses, not for the first time.
18:41Hardly his best afternoon.
18:46Alec Ferguson completed 11 years in charge of Manchester United this week.
18:5211 trophy-laden years.
18:55Dixon's ball in.
19:00Overmars.
19:02Scull's got a toe to it, and this is Beckham.
19:06Glad.
19:09Overmars.
19:14Held up by Jonsson.
19:15Parler in support.
19:17And having a go himself.
19:21He's been short of goals, Ray Parler.
19:29The thing that gives this fixture an edge whenever it's played
19:32is that each team likes nothing more than to beat the other.
19:38These are games that are highlighted on the respective club's fixture calendar
19:43as soon as the fixture lists are published each June.
19:49It's partly to do with the fact that the club's
19:51fixture calendar has been changed.
19:53Yes, the fixture lists are published each June.
19:59It's partly to do with status, partly to do with history.
20:02As Sheringham hits one.
20:05And partly to do with shared ambition.
20:13Anson Boddenham has also a cricket umpire in his spare time.
20:19Anson Benger finished third in his first season.
20:23All that previous experience with Monaco and in the J League brought to bear.
20:29But...
20:33Not a real concern for Seaman.
20:47And Elka...
20:50Phil Neville was guilty of the foul.
20:54And Arsenal have a free kick.
20:59They've been the same attacking force in this second half
21:01as they were for the opening half hour of the game.
21:05It's not to say they won't be again.
21:10Grimondi.
21:13Gold.
21:15Out clear by Scoles.
21:18And here's Cole.
21:20Winterberg.
21:31Gold.
21:33Gary Neville.
21:38David Platt.
21:42Parra.
21:46And here's the free kick.
21:50And Elka.
21:55Well, the crowd like what they're seeing of Nicola and Elka.
22:00Note that his first calling card was that goal in the first half.
22:07But he looks to have a real future.
22:09Gold.
22:18Bergs' header.
22:20Ran away from Sheringham.
22:22Platt.
22:25Parra.
22:28Dixon is up from the back.
22:29It's turned away for a throw by Philip Neville.
22:36Arsenal beginning to look the more likely.
22:39Ian Wright.
22:42Johnson got a foot to it.
22:46Good challenge by Adams.
22:50Dixon.
22:53Here's Bould.
22:55Couldn't retain both possession and his balance.
22:59Adams.
23:00Manchester United not retaining the ball for any length of time.
23:04And Wright!
23:09So dangerous.
23:14Schmeichel shaking his head
23:15at some of the defensive shenanigans in front of him.
23:21He has to look at himself today as well
23:23and will probably admit in one of his quieter moments
23:26that it's not been his finest hour.
23:33Parra.
23:34Dixon.
23:39Ian Wright.
23:41Overmars is in the centre.
23:42So is Christopher Wray.
23:43So is Winterburn.
23:44It's Wray!
23:46It came off Gary Neville
23:47and somehow Schmeichel kept it out.
23:52No wonder they're hugging one another.
23:57To start with, I think Wright expected to be flagged offside.
24:00Then he realised he wasn't going to be.
24:02Accelerated away.
24:03Picked out Wray.
24:04Hit Neville.
24:05And although Schmeichel was on the deck,
24:07he stuck up that big left arm
24:10and palmed it away.
24:17Winterburn.
24:19And Klatz!
24:22What a story!
24:25A player largely ignored for much of the season by Arsene Wenger.
24:30A man who began his career with Manchester United.
24:34A player born in Chatterton in Greater Manchester
24:37may well have decided this summit meeting in Arsenal's favour.
24:48Beckham.
24:54Good challenge by the captain, Adams.
24:56A platform for Winterburn.
25:00And Arsenal know that in what little time remains,
25:04Manchester United will come at them strongly.
25:08There will be no better insurance policy than another goal.
25:11Here's Parlor.
25:21Klatz.
25:24Overmars.
25:26Tried to suck Gary Neville in.
25:29Still it's Overmars.
25:39The deflection took it for a corner.
25:42Off Ronnie Johnson.
25:51Is he to be the match winner?
26:00Gary Neville.
26:04For Nicky Butt.
26:14Here comes...
26:15the Solskjaer.
26:19And another chance goes begging.
26:21And there won't be many more.
26:25Here's Wright.
26:30Into stoppage time now and Ian Wright's done well to escape.
26:34And there's Ray!
26:36Should have sealed it.
26:40Christopher Ray.
26:46Yet to score in the Premier League.
26:49Should have broken his duck from a sumptuous pass by Ian Wright.
26:54Arsenal almost there.
27:00And when the whistle goes, there will be one enormous...
27:04Highbury Raw.
27:06Because that's what victory over Manchester United means.
27:10Season in, season out.
27:12Here's Overmars.
27:17Parlor.
27:20Knows that the whistle will go any second.
27:23All Arsenal have to do is keep the ball.
27:29Dixon.
27:31Wright.
27:32There it is!
27:34Arsenal victorious.
27:36It's hardly a title decider.
27:38But it's certainly an indicator that we have a fascinating race on our hands.
27:43Plat the match winner, Arsenal victorious.
27:47That victory would prove a crucial turning point in the title race
27:50as the Gunners went on to complete the League and Cup double
27:53in Arsene Wenger's first full season in charge of the north London side.
27:58Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, meanwhile,
28:00had to make do with the runners-up spot.
28:02Despite impressive seasons from Cole and Sheringham up front,
28:05the Red Devils finished an agonising one point behind Arsenal
28:09in the final standings,
28:10thereby relinquishing their much-beloved Premiership crown.
28:14For the London side, it was the start of a trophy-laden period
28:17under the shrewd guidance of Arsene Wenger.