There are times when you can barely believe what you see with your own eyes. What happened at Old Trafford on February 25, 2001 was one of those occasions. There was Manchester United’s major title challengers, clinically torn apart by a marauding side intent on leaving no doubt who was top dog. It was a day when everything United did turned to gold in a similar way that it was against Blackburn recently. Dwight Yorke took the headlines with his first half hat trick but it was a complete team performance – and no, it was certainly not a dream, just a nightmare for Arsenal. The whole story was emphatically told by the final League Table at the end of the season with the Gunners in second spot a full ten points behind United.
Manchester United 6 v Arsenal 1
David Anderson reported at the time for PA Sport – Manchester United destroyed Arsenal at Old Trafford to effectively wrap up their seventh title in nine years. Arsenal are supposed to be United’s nearest challengers, but the Reds made a mockery of that billing as they ripped them apart to open up a 16 point lead at the top of the Premiership. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side now need just 15 points from their remaining 10 games to clinch the championship.
The day was also a personal success for Dwight Yorke, who took full advantage of a rare start to score a first half hat trick. Roy Keane and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also scored in the first period as United led 5-1 at half-time. At the death, substitute Teddy Sheringham made it 6-1 to equal United’s best ever home win over Arsenal in the league. It was also Arsenal’s heaviest Premiership defeat under manager Arsene Wenger.
Yorke had been handed only his second start in nine games because Andy Cole was suspended and Sheringham was surprisingly left on the bench. The £12.6million hitman, who has fallen from first to fourth in the strikers’ pecking order, duly vented a season’s worth of frustrations on Arsenal. He took just two minutes to begin the rout when he played a one-two with Paul Scholes on the right and knocked home the return at the back post.
The goal gave Yorke the injection of confidence he so desperately and he has admitted he has struggled to come to terms with his demotion at Old Trafford. Arsenal kept their nerve and in the 15th minute they hauled themselves back into the game with a well-taken goal. Oleg Luzhny and Robert Pires combined well down the right before the French international pulled the ball back for Thierry Henry to tuck home his 18th goal of the season.
The Gunners were on level terms for just two minutes until Yorke restored United’s lead when he burst through into space on the left to shoot home. He nearly scored a third a minute later when David Seaman touched his header from Keane’s cross over for a corner. That Seaman save was just a temporary setback for Yorke and in the 22nd minute he duly completed his hat-trick.
Beckham picked him out with a great diagonal ball into the centre and he held off the challenge of Igor Stepanovs before slotting home goal number three. Arsenal’s backline of Stepanovs, Gilles Grimandi, Ashley Cole and Luzhny had completely disintegrated and just three minutes later the rampant Reds scored a fourth. This time Yorke turned provider and he broke down the left before sending over a perfect cross to Keane, who controlled the ball and slotted it home into the bottom corner.
So much for United’s supposed goal drought and after managing just four in their last six games, they had achieved that number in just 25 minutes against Arsenal. They weren’t finished yet and in the 37th minute the Reds made it 5-1.
Grimandi fell over and let Nicky Butt in on the right to sum up his afternoon and the United midfielder pulled the ball back for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to turn home his 12th goal of the season. Scholes could have added a sixth when he blazed over at close range after Seaman had blocked Beckham’s free-kick at his near post.
Arsenal clearly needed to make changes and at half-time manager Arsene Wenger took off Cole and brought on Fredrik Ljungberg with Silvinho moving back to left-back. The shell-shocked Gunners regrouped and had a chance to pull a goal back when Pires’ cross came off Henry and bounced wide. In the main, United continued to do most of the attacking as they searched for the goal that would equal their best ever home league win of 6-1 over Arsenal.
Sheringham joined in on the fun on the touchline as he warmed up and he mimed lifting up trophies in front of the away supporters to the delight of the home fans. Not surprisingly after the whirlwind pace of the first half, the tempo of the game dropped after the interval.
United kept up the pressure on Seaman’s goal, even though they had clearly dropped down a couple of gears, and Jaap Stam headed into the side netting from a Beckham free-kick. It mattered little and United were content to play out the clock. In the 75th minute Yorke came off to be replaced by Sheringham and received a great ovation from the United fans.
He fully deserved it after a Lazarus like comeback which could well redefine the striker’s pecking order. In the final minute, Sheringham completed Arsenal’s humiliation when he scored his 19th goal of the season.
Man Utd: Barthez, Gary Neville, Silvestre, Brown, Stam, Beckham, Butt, Keane (Chadwick 75), Scholes,Yorke (Sheringham 75), Solskjaer. Goals: Yorke 3, 18, 22, Keane 26, Solskjaer 38, Sheringham 90.
Arsenal: Seaman, Luzhny, Cole (Ljungberg 45), Grimandi, Stepanovs, Pires, Vieira, Parlour (Vivas 69), Silvinho,Wiltord, Henry. Goal: Henry 16.
Were you at Old Trafford on that memorable afternoon?
Pal, we won the league at your theatre of dreams. Now that embaressing. Oh to be a GOONER..
Your article makes u sound like you are accepting a defeat on Monday but using this to cheer yourself up!!!!!
To answer the main question, nope I was not their on that day. I guess around 70-300 Million Reds around the world were not their on that day.
The point i would like to highlight look at the quality of the team we could field then complete class throughout.
The other points would be after beaten Arsenal so handsomely United then went on to be beaten bye Liverstool,Munich home and away Derby and the Spuds.
All is not lost this season with our numerous draws during said season United lost 6 times and drew on 8 occasions.
Great result none the less on that day a similar performance “might” be served up on Monday, one never knows, “Football bloody hell”
@Gooner Jake, you have scored 10 times on 18 EPL visits to the theatre of dreams, Now thats embaressing
Man u rule! Just repeat this feats. United we stand
@Red Scott Yeah? So? That just highlights a good defence..or maybe the fact referees are incredibly biased towards man u at old trafford. I don’t know, you can make your own mind up. ps your favourite ref Howard Webb will be officiating on Monday. Well done.
@Gooner Jake The last time Arsenal lost a game where Howard Webb was the referee was at Old Trafford in April 2008 Since then the Gooners have won six and drawn three of the nine games the Rotherham based Referee was in charge!
Arsenal have lost seven of their last nine trips to Old Trafford.
What was your point again? Other than enjoy your humble pie on Monday evening back to Third or Fourth with a bang.
Arsenal have won just 14 times in their history at Old Trafford which is on average about once every ten years. If you don’t know your past GOOONEERSSS you don’t know your future.
RedScot,
Your envy and Jealousy shows no Bounds…
Manchester United have been the most successful side in the last 17 years because they have spent the most….FACT!….only Chelsea have maybe spent more but that was in a short 5 year period…When Fergie took over, you got lucky with Eric (I did F-All in Europe) Cantona but he won you the league and gave you the momentum to start your incredible success…..
BUT, and here’s the point….Arsenal have done it the right way…..We are not £1billion in DEBT…. We havent sold out to YANKS….We havent had a piece of Land that didnt need any help for development….
Why has Fergie never been wanted by Madrid, Barca, Inter,etc,etc….because they see through everything. they see through the BULLYING, they see through the DEBT, and they see the truth…
United’s Time has ended…Arsenal, Chelsea and maybe eeen Spurs are the real Powers now…and thats gotta hurt you BIG TIME…..ITS THE TRUTH and its starts on Monday night….!!!
BAT ON!!!
@Wingard well said mate.They are History…Hissssing Hisssing!
Arsenals record in the their last 10 games against us and the Rent Boys.
Played, 10 Won, a big Zero! Drawn 1 LOST NINE. For 5 Against 22, you gotta love flappy Fabiansky.
GoonerJake – Go away please you helmet.
Hold the fucking back page,
Le Arse fans coming here to tell us we are jealous and envious of them. Maybe, your right in one case, your ownership is not held by greedy yanks who may try to bleed the club dry. Apart from that you there aint much to be jealous or envious about is there??
No trophies for 5 years and counting, a dismal recent record against your so called rivals…..you got a pretty stadium and play pretty football and the last 5 years show that is PRETTY much all you got right now 🙂
Getting happy cause your top of the league, i’m sorry to burst that bubble of yours, but that WILL change by monday and stay that way for the rest of the season, especially considering we are one point behind you with a game in hand
pez, that could be the most poorly informed, pathetic comment I’ve ever read on any forum. Embarrassing, utterly utterly embarrassing.
‘you helmet’ is quite possibly the worst insult iv ever heard. Really. As for united, your barron run of trophyless years is upon you. With City and Arsenal getting stronger and united fielding it’s worst side in 25 years, you will fall behind. The new ‘Liverpool’. Fergie will eloquently leave you when he realises this team can’t compete. I give him 3/4 years max. See you later mancies.
You seem to be obsessed with debt pez! Ignoring all your other banal comments like getting lucky with Cantona, bullying , envy, jealousy and all your other ignorant accusations remember this. Big business can ONLY get bigger through DEBT – well managed debt. Just ask Rupert Murdoch and News Corp. Whether we like it or not, a football club IS a business and there’s no bigger business in football than Manchester United – that includes Real Madrid and Barcelona. And don’t forget, United never had to sell their history like Arsenal did with the sale of their traditional Highbury home.
@pez this sort of jealousy!
In the last 24 years Arsenal have won this!
3 EPL titles
4 FA Cups
4 Charity/community Shields
1 European Cup winners cup!
7 Managers in that space of time(24yrs) have departed Highbury.
Sir Alex in post at the home of football, where everyone looks with envious eyes.
11 EPL Titles
5 FA cups
4 League cups.
9 Community/Charity shields.
2***** EUFA Champions leagues
1 UEFA Cup winners cup
1 UEFA SUPER Cup
1 Inter Continental cup.
1 FIFA Club world cup.
As you dont know piss all about Uniteds debt or in fact yours i would keep your nose out of that issue on a united blog.I eat little shits like you alive on that topic.investigate your own debt, its very interesting and lest I say confused.
The only time Arsenal supporters get near winning a Champions league cup, is when they switch on their playstations.
Cheers Tom Addison, i dont know why i bother, but its all banter.Sit down you Peadophile Pez.
Directed by news now.
Arsenal’s debt if interesting and has been well managed with only one slight hiccup with some of the Highbury flats and now very basic and is of a small amount.
I personally don’t know too much about utd’s debt but as a football lover I know it’s not great for a team of utd’s stature in there current financial position, it’s not good for the game, even though you are worth more slightly more than the current debt, I wouldn’t feel as comfortable as an arsenal fan off the pitch.
To someone else – The new pretty home we have was a necessity to continue moving forward, as a previous person mentioned, football is a business, we needed to move to a new stadium at the expense of Highbury (unfortunately)
You should grow up on Slagging people though
Well this is all very childish isn’t it. Is there anyone over the age of ten on this blog?
pez- I’m pretty sure United fans are not jealous of us about anything other than the ownership issue. They have a FAR more successful recent history than us and by saying they are jealous of us you just make yourself sound like one of those deluded sp*rs fans who claim we are somehow jealous of them.
RedScott- Your stats regarding our recent history are very wayward. Either my maths is wrong or 1989 and 1991 were both within the last 24 years… that makes it five titles for us in that time. You’ve also missed at least one FA Cup and League Cup but I can’t be bothered to look through it all. The Cup Winners’ Cup aside, you seem to have confused ‘the last 24 years’ with the Wenger years. And I assume by the ‘rent boys’ you mean City? I’m sorry, didn’t we beat them 3-0 at their place just a month or two ago? Before coming out with these figures at least make sure they’re correct. As for the peadophile comments… Ferguson today tried to imply that united is club that should have more class than to resort to that, and he is right, you should. Apparently you don’t though.
Frank Scicluna- Yes, the way for a business to grow is through managable debt, that’s the point. Ours is very well managed, and yours is not. Don’t try to make yourself sound big with comments that don’t follow through on what you are trying to put across. Also, Deloitte currently rank United behind both Barca and Real in the money tables, so your wild claim doesn’t actually include them does it?
Dear Red Scot,
You total little prick…You cant even get correct what manure have won, let alone what Arsenal have won in the last 24 years, which is alot more than you state…so get your F**KING facts right you jealous little twerp…You could nt eat Ferdinands cock after he has missed another drugs test let alone me….
You and people like Tom Addison dont get it do you…Why are Man united fans so hated when Liverpool won even more than you in the 70s and 80s but they did it with style and panache…you guys are soo oblivious to the truth its unbelievable…..What the Red Knights all about you moron….
Arsenal are the best run club in the world….oooooo dear we havent won anything in the last 5 years…big fucking deal……thats football…what did you win from 1967-1989……er, what was that you silly twit….
I take thugs like u to the cleaners every day…..and as for Arsenal’s debt…..none in 2 years and i know as i work with the club….and you boys owe the USA BIG TIME!!!!
As we all know…..its over for you guys now….you had it AMAZING for 17 years…..let it go, just let it go……ITS OVER, U KNOW it, FERGIE THE BULLY knows it, and DEBT BOYS KNOW IT AS WELL….and thats a FACT!!!
Pez, you fucking hero.
Why are Gooner fans like Pez and Gooner Jake such dumb cretins? Surely, a club like Arsenal deserves better than them! If you really work for the club Pez, you must do no more than clean the toilets.
Trading Insults over the net! LMAO!!!! I am 19 and more than capable of beating the fuck out of you face to face!
“Little prick”, i am 6″5″ Inches tall.
Deal with the facts not your lame insults, defeat my posts….No you cant?
The boys will deal with you Monday.Two girls after me that makes a change! “Pez and jake” lol
Keep it Red or you are dead!
Believe envy is a bitch, Arsenal will be our bitches on Monday!
Cmon United.
@ The Boss dont forget they Hiss at the Spuds fans ( aimed at Jews) who humped them so wickedly.I got a serious like for the Spurs a team in Landin on the up.Dont you think? Well in comparison to the Rent boys and never have beens, I know who I would watch.Fast exciting football. Spuds
And aint Gareth Bale the real deal!!!! erm in comparison To Van persie, Arseshaving, Nasri, Chamois, and not forgetting the legend that is their Club captain, Fabregit!
True class Arsenal. Stick together.
Not that he disrespected Arsenal, no lets hide that.
Kiss him goodbye like most great players that played for le Arse they want to win trophies.
To the “TheBoyInRed&White” please read “The Old Trafford side, who are more than £700million in debt, held on to top spot in Forbes Magazine’s list of the world’s 20 most valuable football teams. Six of that top 20 are from England – despite the Premier League being the most indebted in Europe, according to governing body Uefa.
United, who have now topped the table for six years, were valued by Forbes at £1.19billion – a two per cent fall from last year. They are the target of a possible takeover bid by the Red Knights group, although the Glazer family who own the club insist they do not want to sell.
Newcastle United, rated as 20th most valuable, were a surprise inclusion after being relegated last year. Arsenal were third, ahead of Liverpool in sixth, Chelsea in ninth and Tottenham at 12th. Big-spending Manchester City were 19th.”
That was only reported six months ago mate so until a more recent list is published, United retains first spot ahead of Arsenal and every other club.
I dont argue with my peers, it makes no sense on a United blog.Why dont the Yanks invest in United. I mean the “one” United.
They are ruining our club and curtailing our Football.
Lets be honest, the atmosphere at Old Trafford on Tuesday was like what you expect at the Emirates. It was fucking dead.
They along with other investors are destroying fooball and making it septic and media friendly.
Its time for a change, bring back a good old punch up during the game and after.Any one for a Old firm derby! lol
Cmon United,We will meet again!….Just not any time soon.
Manchester United 1993-2010…RIP.
Trading insults with a 19year old who is 6.5……..mmmmm…im scared.
Look get real geek.
Ive never debated that incredible success of Manure…its the way its been done!!
FACT: You have massive debt.
FACT: You have no class.
FACT: Arsenal havent won as much in the last 17 years,……BUT what we have won is because of the incredible genius of Wenger who has been courted by every big team in Europe unlike the DRUNK who everyone knows has bullied and spent his way to the top and thats the truth…the complete truth and everyone knows it….United will never ever again dominate Europe because they no longer have the most cash or the most power….ITS OVER….just live with it!!!
Right Pez, you beguiled little fool, let’s try some constructive debate shall we?
“Manchester United have been the most successful side in the last 17 years because they have spent the most….FACT!….only Chelsea have maybe spent more”.
Well you’ve flat out contradicted yourself there in one sentence, we’ve spent the most except for Chelsea? Well we haven’t spent the most then have we? I’d say our youth policy, kicking out the booze culture and being done with kick-and-rush football were also pretty big factors behind our success.
“When Fergie took over, you got lucky with Eric (I did F-All in Europe) Cantona but he won you the league and gave you the momentum to start your incredible success”.
Okay, so when Wenger makes a bargain buy it’s genius, but if Fergie does it it’s lucky is it? Take off your rose tinted glasses fool. Cantona turned a good team into a great team, Fergie and the other players made it even better.
“BUT, and here’s the point….Arsenal have done it the right way…..We are not £1billion in DEBT…. We havent sold out to YANKS….We havent had a piece of Land that didnt need any help for development”
Aaaah debt, debt debt debt. Right mate, I have a degree in economics and am training to be an ACA qualified accountant, so I think, although I’m not an expert, I’m qualified to comment on this matter. Our debt, unlike, say, Leeds United’s, is not a self-inflicted debt. Ours was unfairly imposed on us buy our owners who acquired us through a leveraged buyout. Our debt is not because we aren’t “run properly”.
Fact is we actually have the best business model in the league. I can’t be arsed finding the quote now, but many well-educated Arsenal fans admit that, were it not for the £50m+ interest payments we have to make each year, ours would be the best business model.
“Why has Fergie never been wanted by Madrid, Barca, Inter,etc,etc….because they see through everything. they see through the BULLYING, they see through the DEBT, and they see the truth…”
As with the Cantona point you make, you’re just using your own bias to poorly translate a situation. Perhaps Fergie never went to those clubs because he didn’t want to go? Bullying? I’d say it’s more effective man management, running the team in the best way as deemed by the situation. Debt? As I’ve mentioned, not his doing, was unfairly imposed on us by a third party. Seeing the truth? Too vague I’m afraid, I suggest you try and back up all your arguments and points with facts rather than vague references.
“United’s Time has ended…Arsenal, Chelsea and maybe eeen Spurs are the real Powers now…and thats gotta hurt you BIG TIME…..ITS THE TRUTH and its starts on Monday night….!!!”
We’ve been hearing this for years, it’s getting monotonous now. With the UEFA Financial Fair Play rules to be eased in over the next few years, I admit I can see Arsenal being a big player, because with their new stadium and high prices they are able to be run at a profit. But to say our time is over and Spurs will take over us? You’re merely using excessive hyperbole to make your point, how City-esque.
“Why are Man united fans so hated when Liverpool won even more than you in the 70s and 80s but they did it with style and panache”
Liverpool won it will style and panache? Again, biased translations of events to try and back up your flawed arguments. Liverpool bored Europe to death with their 4-4-2 and constant back-passes to the keeper. United have played some brilliant football over the years, and you can’t deny that.
“you guys are soo oblivious to the truth its unbelievable…..What the Red Knights all about you moron….”
Again, what this “truth” is I don’t know, I really wish you would expand on it at some point. The Red Knights were about a group of wealthy individuals purchasing the club so as to alleviate the debt, allow some fan ownership of the club and looking after the interests of the working-class fan. I’ll confess I had my doubts, a group of wealthy individuals sounds like too much potential for huge collisions of ego, but how that situation indicates our club or fans are nobs is beyond me.
“Arsenal are the best run club in the world….oooooo dear we havent won anything in the last 5 years…big fucking deal……thats football…what did you win from 1967-1989……er, what was that you silly twit….”
Again, what is the point in this? First of all, you could do with doing some research as well, we won the FA cup in 1977, 1983 and 1985, along with the Charity Shields of ’77 and ’83. In that time, Arsenal won two league titles (’71 and ’89), two FA Cups (’71 and ’79) and a league cup (’87). More successful, yes, but I imagine I’ve informed yourself of some of Arsenal’s success that you weren’t aware of yourself there.
Arsenal haven’t won anything in the last five years, that’s right, I’d say that’s a lot more relevant that what we didn’t win from 1967-1989. We have 18 league titles, you have 13. ‘Nuff said, let’s move on shall we?
“I take thugs like u to the cleaners every day…..and as for Arsenal’s debt…..none in 2 years and i know as i work with the club….and you boys owe the USA BIG TIME!!!!”
Take us to the cleaners? Grow up. Again with the debt, think I’ve made my point on that issue. You work with the club? So what? What as, a steward or a hot dog vendor?
“As we all know…..its over for you guys now….you had it AMAZING for 17 years…..let it go, just let it go……ITS OVER, U KNOW it, FERGIE THE BULLY knows it, and DEBT BOYS KNOW IT AS WELL….and thats a FACT!!!”
It’s not over, the UEFA Financial Fair Play rules are only going to help us enforce our position further, as it will stop other teams from ever doing a Chelsea or a City again. Fergie The Bully? Or Ferige “Cracks Heads Together When He Has To For The Good Of The Team”? Again with the debt, shut up will ya. That’s a fact? Last person who said that ended up blowing the league and moving to Italy.
“i know as i work with the club” has to be the saddest comment ever made pez. Here’s a newsflash for you mate. My nephew lives next door to a Gooner whose wife is a part time toilet cleaner at the Emirates, whose friend answers the phones at the Arsenal offices and has a son who runs messages for Wenger. Sir Alex will take over at Arsenal next season IF United are leading 3-0 at half time on Monday night and IF Wenger leaves the stadium to hitchhike to Paris before the final whistle. You are welcome to spread the news amongst your workmates at “the club”
man utd fans.lol. simple retarded.children.idiots.im from cardiff and a utd fan.get a grip spastic man and support cardiff.
@arsenal fans!!!!!we know our history….u dont!!!
lets talk after monday if there is anything to talk!!
dont just make a mockery of your comments and make you guys look like kids in an united blog page!!!
@pez and Jake, did I tell you the future lol you really must look at your history and the stats.Its now 19 games and still 10 goals.
Cmon united. lets make this the 19 on the 19th.
although not a good record it dont mean the world, unlike the fact is does to you, you edged it with a largely lucky goal but well done park. You didn’t look like scoring yourself if you would honest, which is unline you….redscot
@ LEW If you keep writing shite, like your Arse mates, i will keep edging over your Arse ( SPUNKING) “Girls” pussycats.why would i be honest whinger never is” I did not see that” Ohh but he calls one of the best players in the EPL ever having a dark side.
Words are cheap….. deal with the facts!
oh getting a bit too personal now redscot, looks like |I have hit a nerve haha. my work is done.
Soz i am being an ignorant bastard. great read Tom Addison. just United.through and through!
i should scroll through the blog and read before i post, its quite invaluable me thinks!
Anyhow i think the impetus is with United and we can drive on, we are not playing brilliant but getting the points, its ok thus far, as for the Champions league, yikes am scared! big time, well in a way not for obvious reasons!
LUHG
@ lEW yeah you hit a nerve your anal probe has been removed, and had a reality check?
I was dissapointed with the last Gunners game the other week, id love it if we can get the points up and stay first in the league, Come on you gooners!