Manchester United v Arsenal: Great Games No 4 - Overmars sends Arsenal to title glory

This Saturday Arsenal head to Old Trafford desperate to prove that they can still mix it with the big boys. 

The Gunners go into the weekend seven points behind the leaders Chelsea and six behind United, but they could give themselves, and United's title rivals, a huge lift if they can beat United at Old Trafford for only the fourth time in Premier League history.

Yesterday we went back to 2004 when Wayne Rooney destroyed the Invincibles. Today we go back even further to a time when Arsenal ripped United's heart out.

 

Old Trafford is known as the Theatre of Dreams but for Arsenal fans it has been a scene of some real horror shows. However, the travelling fans have also witnessed some moments of sheer jubililiation.

At Christmas in 1997 Arsenal were sixth in the table and 13 points behind the leaders Manchester United. However, Arsene Wenger's men really found their feet in the new year and went on an amazing run of form. When the two sides met at Old Trafford in March Arsenal were nine points behind them but with three games in hand. Were Arsenal about to do to United what Fergie's men had done to Newcastle two seasons earlier?

Arsenal's record at Old Trafford before this game was awful. It was almost as bad as a Jedward single! In their previous five visits in the Premier League they hadn't even managed a single goal to their name. If they were to catch the champions and put the destination of the title in their own hands, that had to change.

In a tense affair, both teams had chances to break the deadlock. Overmars could have scored for the Gunners before Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham had chances of their own. However it was Overmars who made Arsenal fans feel over the moon with the only goal of the game on 79 minutes.

A long ball from defence was headed up in the air by Ray Parlour. Nicolas Anelka then flicked the ball on for Overmars to run on to. With Neville closing him down and only Schemichel to beat, the Dutchman cooly placed the ball between the Great Dane's legs to seal a remarkable win for the visitors.

That result put Arsenal six points behind the leaders with three games in hand. Arsenal made no mistake, clinching the title with two games to spare. Wenger became the first foreign manager to win the title in England.

 

Remember to come back tomorrow where we will continue our countdown to number one.