Manchester United visit the Emirates tonight to play Arsenal in what is always a tasty fixture. We look back at some of the great goals that this fixture has thrown up and there have been some absolute belters.
Ryan Giggs, FA Cup semi-final, 1999
Probably the most famous goal ever scored in the fixture was this effort by Ryan Giggs in the FA Cup Semi-Final replay at Villa Park in 1999. It was deep into extra time with United down to 10 men when Giggsy went off on a slalom run that wouldn't look out of place at Sochi. His celebration has become almost as famous as he displayed his chest rug to the world and seemed very proud of it too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quI_LkMj4HI
Thierry Henry, Premier League, 2000
A year after the Giggs goal, Thierry Henry hit this pearler at Highbury, a quite magnificent goal which you can watch over and over again. The kind of goal you might score after several attempts when having a kickabout with your mates. The goal also reminds us that Fabien Barthez really was quite small for a keeper. Not that height would have helped with this strike. Nobody would have saved it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUE6_B_frBA
Ashley Young, Premier League, 2011
Ashley Young is viewed with suspicion and often disdain by football fans, and that's just the Manchester United supporters, but there's no denying that he sometimes shows flashes of ability when not falling over. This goal versus Arsenal is a fantastic strike into the Stretford End and shows what he can do. As far as United fans are concerned, he just doesn't do it enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAwCQtEFFEU
Patrick Vieira, Premier League, 1997
Patrick Vieira didn't score an awful lot of goals, but when he did, they tended to be of the spectacular variety. Witness this howitzer at Highbury back in 1997 which left Peter Schmeichel helpless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8G5Yty4RKI
John O'Shea, Premier League, 2005
John O'Shea has never been known for his goalscoring prowess, but we always knew he had a bit of a touch about him. Back in 2005 at Highbury, Sheasy dinked one over the onrushing Arsenal keeper with an effort that had more than a whiff of Cantona off it. Sublime. The celebration was great too. As if to say 'what? that's what I do'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seejAiq6V7A
Thierry Henry, Premier League, 2004
This next effort is another from the French talisman, Thierry Henry. A shot of raw power which moves and nestles almost into the roof of the net leaving Roy Carroll looking like Roy Orbison.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDIjFox0yHU
Cristiano Ronaldo, Champions League, 2009
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a lot of long range spectaculars, but this goal is just the perfect counter attacking goal. Scored in the Champions League Semi-Final 2nd leg, it was a goal of breathtaking speed and ruthlessness. In a move involving himself, Ji Sung Park and Wayne Rooney, this is counter attacking football at its very best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2stUod8qnqM
Marc Overmars, Charity Shield, 2000
Questionable defending from Manchester United here, but that doesn't take anything away from this venomous strike from Marc Overmars in the Community Shield of 2000. A shot which really tested the strength of the net.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnwJur0DEQQ
David Beckham, FA Cup semi-final, 1999
The Ryan Giggs wonder goal took all the plaudits in this match, but this was a superb effort from David Beckham which gave United the lead. He had his detractors, but his ball striking technique was unquestionable. This is a beauty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnTbS3_Ox3E
Freddie Ljungberg, Premier League, 2001
John O'Shea scored with a nice little chip away to Arsenal as shown earlier, but this little dink from Swedish underpants man, Freddie Ljungberg, is a glorious piece of skill. At first it looks like a fluke, but when you see the replay, you know he meant it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLMolnFsFmA
