Posted on Thursday, 16th August 2012 by Chudi
As a young London based Manchester United fan, Arsenal have always held a special place for me in terms of teams I dislike.
Leeds, Liverpool and City are teams you dislike instinctively but the Arsenal rivalry was more ‘manufactured’. Whilst Sir Alex believes it came into it’s own after David Rocastle was sent off for retaliating against a foul from Norman Whiteside in 1987, most fans will feel that it really kicked off in 1990 after the mass brawl that saw both sides docked points.
From that moment on United and Arsenal were tied together in a fierce rivalry. But last night, when Manchester United announced a deal had been signed to take Arsenal’s star player and captain Robin Van Persie to Old Trafford, the bond was finally broken.
It haS been on the wane for a long time as Arsenal have failed to live up to their side of the bargain between the two clubs, to remain the most competitive in the country. And any hopes of a revival well and truly departed with Van Persie.
If you think of Premier League rivalries the first that should pop into your head is Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira. The two stood as titans, fighting their own battle as their clubs waged war on and off field. Crunching tackles, glares and harsh words were all part of their struggles, something that spectacularly came to a head in Highbury’s tunnel back in February 2005 when Keane roared to the defence of Gary Neville, who Vieira was trying to intimidate.
The precursor to this was of course the infamous ‘Battle Of The Buffet’ or ‘Pizzagate’ when an Arsenal side, incensed by their defeat at the hands of United (their first in 50 games), began a food fight that resulted in Sir Alex being hit by a Pizza. Sir Alex can count himself lucky, being hit by a pizza was getting off lightly in comparison to some of the things that took place on field that day!
There was Keown’s attack on Van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford the previous season after Van Nistelrooy’s missed penalty too, all of these episodes added to a rich tapestry of rivalry between our clubs but more recently the animosity hasn’t been there, at least not from this side.
Sir Alex has mellowed towards his former rival Arsene Wenger and can frequently be seen praising the Frenchman and defending him from criticism, something many journalists have point to as the end of the rivalry. It seems as if Sir Alex no longer sees Wenger and his club as a threat, case in point Sir Alex willingly selling Mikel Silvestre to the north London side in 2008. Silvestre was a bit part player at the time, but at the height of animosity between the two sides I doubt Sir Alex would have sold him Silvestre’s boots.
More recently fierce competition has turned to mocking. Back in July, following an interview with the French manager, Russian journalist Sergei Dadygin claimed Sir Alex Ferguson sent Wenger a letter after Arsenal’s 8-2 humiliation at Old Trafford, apologising for the game and Patrice Evra’s jabs about kids vs men don’t quite have the stinging effect of a Roy Keane 2 footer, instead they took on quite a jovial but irritating tone.
In his 2011 autobiography, Gary Neville almost eulogised about Arsenal and what they have become. He lamented how they lack the toughness, mental and physical, of the 97/98 team. Something that has played a major part in their falling away from the very top tier of English football, and thus allowed any link between our clubs to die. We have remained competitive and the top team in the country, whilst Arsenal have seen Chelsea and Man City rise to usurp their place.
Arsenal have resisted though, they reacted with indignation to Evra’s comments, attempting to kick him off the field on more than one occasion and Dadygin claims that Wenger was less than happy with Sir Alex’s letter of apology. Whilst we have seen threats emerge in the form of Chelsea and more importantly Man City and looked to trump them, Arsenal have held on to the rivalry with United. Perhaps it is the last vestige of when they were one of the two top clubs in the country.
Last week following the friendly with Barcelona in Gothenburg, Sir Alex complained of Arsenal’s reluctance to do business with him in regards to a Van Persie, stating that they were willing to sell him to anybody but him. If he was ‘trolling’ he did it brilliantly, as he consigned them to the side, reinforcing the fact that he no longer saw them as rivals. You could hear blood boiling in North London with his comments, but ultimately the decision laid with them. If they dug their heels in United and RVP would just have to deal with it.
It seemed like this would be the case too, as reports of Arsenal refusing to budge filled the papers. Whilst it would be better to get some money for him than none next summer, selling him to a team you consider a rival was just out of the question right?
Apparently not! You can only imagine the shock and anger of their fans when it was revealed last night that a deal had been struck. For all of their apparent objection to the move, for the first time in 25 years Arsenal would be selling a player to Manchester United.
Last time around it was Viv Anderson who, whilst a decent player in his own right, wasn’t quite in the same ball park in terms of star power and team importance when he made the switch. This time though, it is a different matter.
Arsenal fans have consoled themselves by saying they chose to sell and they got good money for an ‘injury prone 29 year old’ but Wenger himself has said they had no choice and the fact remains that not only have they sold their club captain for the 4th time in 6 years, but they have sold their club captain and star player to a team they consider themselves to be on equal footing with.
We saw the outrage when it appeared that Wayne Rooney was on his way to Man City back in 2010, so can you imagine the uproar if the move had gone through? It was impossible though, Sir Alex wouldn’t have sold him to them for all the tea in China and rightly so, what kind of message would it have sent out to fans as well as other teams?
For all the talk of money problems at the club, I’m certain fans as well as Sir Alex would have rather seen him go abroad for less than City would have paid or leave on a free. As a top team, having you best player poached away from you is just out of the question.
As with Torres’ move from Liverpool to Chelsea there has been an outpouring of anger against the player. Shirts have been burned, things have been said etc but the fault doesn’t lie with the player, rather with the club. Arsenal, like Liverpool, have allowed themselves to fall that far behind that the move is a step up whether they want to believe it or not.
So when RVP lines up in the red of Manchester United against Everton on Monday, the final links between Manchester United and Arsenal will be broken and, perhaps sadly, will finally lay a once great rivalry to rest.
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Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Patrick Vieira, Robin Van Persie, Roy Keane, Sir Alex Ferguson
Posted in Blogs | Comments (42)
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
I stopped reading at “London based Manchester United fan”
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Aren’t you being a tad presumptous? You’ve not won the title yet? And do you really think rvp was what was required at man utd? you certainly need a midfielder but bought none? SAF has a good forward line, but the rest behind it are questionable. I’d rather put phelan in there than anderson
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Your club is almost 500 million in debt You had a bad IPO You are paying 63 million for a 29 year old with a questionable health record
you will be the next Glasgow Rangers if you continue on this road
Whos falling behind again?
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Pre Munich Red Reply:
August 16th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Not only do you buy the title. You are also disgusted when anybody else spends serious money. You really believe you have the sole right to buy who you want. I hope the IPO does fail then we can rid of the Glazer leeches. Now go and take your loadsamoney gloating onto one of your own sites
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
this a a bucketful of BS
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
“We have remained competitive and the top team in the country”. Delusion?
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
If anything this will reignite that rivalry !!!
Could it be a bad move in a way??
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
you overlooked the Neville Brothers gamesmanship on Reyes in the game which brought the unbeaten run to an end. ‘London-based Man U fan’, indeed.
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
From our side we are hoping that its the final nail in your coffin economically.. If Robin breaks down which should happen some time real soon (he needs to pass medical first) his salary and transfer fee will be an Arsenal sized nail indeed in your Glazer built coffin.
He is a hell of a player when he is fit however.
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Alas your memory doesn’t take you as far as the Brady, Sunderland and Stapleton era. The latter like van Persie has been acquired by Manchester Utd approaching his sell by date at a rate of knots that Ben Ainslie would be proud of. Van Persie only played one full season in 8 years at Arsenal, and let’s face it he isn’t Bergkamp. Has Ferguson pulled a fast one on Arsenal ending a rivalry by signing a player who prior to last season averaged about 18 games a season who is nearing 30? Probably not. It shall remain to be seen.
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Hi Chudi.
I am an Arsenal supporter and I do think there is an element of truth in what you say. I remember players like Viera and Lauren, Toure who gave no quarter. That has been lost. Yes the rivalry at that time was some of the fiercest I have seen. But in fairness I think last season United over achieved and seem to have the worst overall squad for many years. I am sure United will not win the Premiership this season and may finish in their lowest position for some time. I am not suggesting Arsenal will even win anything, but they have made some good signings and have some players returning. It seems that United are starting on a waning part of their cycle. Time will tell. Yes I would like another Viera/Keane battle but even your team barring Rooney have a lot of cissies so your team are just as much a reason that the rivalry has diluted. It’s a two way shared thing.
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Well said Arse&Nose.
I’m off to cry about a plastic Man U fan not considering us rivals anymore.
Good luck RvP, one good season out of 8 got you a great deal.
We’ll find out in May who got the better end if this deal. It’s City vs Chelsea for the title anyway. RvP will give you goals, if he stays fit, but you’re weak in the middle of the park and your full backs are pretty woeful. If you strengthen in those positions you’ll be in for a shout, if RvP is your last signing I think you’re in trouble.
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
what a load of bull. we’ll have a stronger and deeper squad this year. the sale of rvp to united will only add more fuel to the fire. time to short those shares.
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
And we had “no choice” means there where no other suitors to choose from. City have the best strike force in the league and Juve couldnt come up with the cash. Others who had cash (Milan) didn’t need strikers (real, Barca)or didn’t fancy the risk of buying an “injury prone 29 year old” So we where left with no choice.
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
It’s funny, because before this deal, if you were on Arsenal’s blog aggregator on newsnow, you’d see a bunch of United blogs worrying that van Persie was the wrong target for the club. No sell-on value, injury prone, almost 30, only one-and-a half productive seasons, etc. Now, however, there’s not a bad word from United fans about this deal? Now, moreover, he’s the key to Europe, reclaiming the title, and the final nail in Arsenal’s coffin?
A bit rich, that.
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Chudi Reply:
August 16th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I don’t particularly want him…
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I too stopped reading at “London based Manchester United fan”
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Once over the euphoria of signing such a world class striker, I do start to wonder why we have paid so much for a 29 year old and by all accounts are offering him a 4 year contract?
We appeared to be the only buyer in the market and could have probably got him for a lot less money in January or even free next year and also offer him less wages.
This seems like a panic reaction to being outbid for Lucas Moura
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
I’ll show you rivallry
I’ll fight you if you like yopu cunt.
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
I agree with you, but let’s be honest. RVP is a worldclass striker, one of the best around so all of you lads saying he’s a bad signing are just bitter Arsenal fans. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t be happy if Rooney signed for City back in 2010. We need a midfielder? Yeah we probably do, but i’d rather take RVP than nothing. AND everyone keeps doubting Ferguson, but he has NEVER let us down, so I trust him to do the right thing. Wether it’s buying a midfielder or giving those we have the chance. So all of you gunners can just piss off and be bitter somewhere else. Have a nice day!
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The Right Speereet Reply:
August 16th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
You seem confused as to why some Gooners are here today. Did you know that if you search under “Arsenal” in newsnow.co.uk you’ll get links to a series of blogs and news sites which mention Arsenal or even former Arsenal players? No?
It’s interesting to read all this bravado from you United fans about the coming season, the treble, and how incredible RvP is, making you favorites for every trophy under the sun.
You’re funny.
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August 16th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
“London based Man U fan” – is there any other kind?
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August 16th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Is this how bitter not winning a trophy in the best part of a decade makes you? Thank god we’ve got the best strike force in the league then. Keep biting you goonie twats! Podolski and giroud combined wont score as many as rvp did last season!
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The Right Speereet Reply:
August 16th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
That’s some classy language there, Red Mick, and a very bold prediction as well.
Thing is, the only honest folks here are Gooners. Wenger himself said it hurt to sell RvP to United. United’s camp, on the other hand, can’t see a single thing wrong with this deal. It’s all talk of trebles and trophies and glory glory glory. Really? Not a risk at all, then? Sure to fire in more goals than Podolski and Giroud combined? Interesting.
We’ll see, won’t we? RvP is deadly when fit and playing consistently, but one look at his record at Arsenal, and you’ll see therein lies the problem.
I’ll miss his goals, but I won’t miss how little class he showed when demanding Arsenal change just for him, and I certainly won’t miss the heart attack I got every time he fell under a challenge…
Good luck.
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Red mick Reply:
August 17th, 2012 at 8:35 am
In fairness, you’re one of the few gooners to come on here and speak with a bit of sense. If you noticed in my post, the statements made were to provoke a reaction from them angry, bitter arsenal fans who had previously commented.
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August 16th, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Brilliant Post Chudi..
As a fellow London based Manchester United fan (Douche Bags can stop reading here if they want); I also HAD a similar “Hatred” for Arsenal and their fans..
But that has mellowed over the years.. I realised that I disliked their fans more than the club.. I always thought that they was the most deluded fans (ok not as deluded as liverpool fans)..
They would arrogantly said “oh we play the best football” and when asked about their last trophy they would repeatedly put out “yeah but we are not in debt, we play beautiful..”
to which my reply would be the likes of
“in 20 years they will look back and ONLY see an arsenal side that FAILED .. not a side that played “beautiful football” and wasn’t in debt”..
To add to that.. In recent years A LOT of that self proclaimed best team in England crap as faded.. they have realised that they have not won a trophy in a while (7 years in AGES for a ‘big club’) –
2011 where they couuldnt beat Birmingham for a cup further faded their claim.. and last season hammered them down further.. (the 8-2 battering)..
But yes this is probably the Nail in the Coffin when it comes to intense Rivalry.. gone are the days of Keane Vs Veira, Keown Vs RVN.. Gone is the intensity and levels of excitement when the two come together…
Do I sympathise with them?? not at all.. I actually hope they fall further.. and Spurs takes their place at the best team in north London..
congrats again on the great post mate
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Johnny Reply:
August 17th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Another plastic…
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August 16th, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Three things we learned from this transfer:
1. None of the bidders valued RVP at more than £10-15. Man U overpaid badly
2. RVP is the real winner
3. Fergie has lost the plot
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Chris Reply:
August 17th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Excellent post, but they only overpaid if he get’s injured again. I have heard the deal was £15m upfront potentially rising to 24m if they win the league and/or other trophies with him. Not bad if they get a couple of titles out of him.
I can’t believe how many exiled Mancs are in London, it must be a bigger shithole than I thought. Unless of course they are a bunch of armchair supporting, glory hunting plastics. I’m sure that’s not the case though.
Oh well, I really hope RvP doesn’t get injured this season and scores lots of goals to keep the hardcore London ‘Reds’ happy.
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August 16th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Are Manu not in a shitload of debt.Over to you ,if Platini has his way neither Scum or Citeh will be able to carry on the way you are going (also Chav Chelsea)after all football clubs are not charities.All of you are existing on loans or charity
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August 16th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Haha they’re already posting burned up rvp Jerseys on YouTube. Next week its gonna be songs lool. Whoever becomes the best player at arsenl this season will be bought by one of the big boys next summer.
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Love United Reply:
August 17th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
You forgot to type your full name, spastic.
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August 16th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Twat!
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August 16th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
As a Gooner I’ll say: “Decent post Chedi”.
1. “Sir Alex wouldn’t have sold him [Rooney] to them [City] for all the tea in China and rightly so…”
How much Chinese tea did Fergie receive for Tevez?
2. To add to ‘Gday’s’ Stapleton comment (above), his scoring rate at Arsenal was 1 goal in 3 games (played:75/goals:225).
Not particularly great. For United, 1981-87 even less productive: 1 goal in 3.7 games (played:223/goals:60).
3. @Alzinho
If the price had dropped in January Utd may have rivals for Sir Robin’s Signature, and certainly so if Utd had chanced their arm for an end of season freebie!
4. As ‘arsenal-steve’ suggests, Utd’s squad was poor last season by Utd’s usual standards, and as ‘Les’ says, Utd need a midfielder – (DM) in my opinion.
5. Finally, expect the top four/five/six places will be very tight this season, not a two-horse race like last term. And I mean very VERY tight!
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August 16th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Bitter Arsenal fans make me laugh…deluded, trophyless fans who need to start waking up to reality. In a day and age where the scousers have paid 35m for Carroll and 15m for Allen, I think 25m for a proven goalscorer and ready made premier league player is a fantastic signing, regardless of age or contract. For me City (although I hate to say it) deserved the league last term, they dominated from start to finish, beat us twice & played the best football in the premier league…realisation that we need to match them this season. City frightened teams with unbeliveable attacking threat and something we found hard to come by, winning by the odd goal on a number of occasions and not convincingly beating teams as we have done in past seasons. If Robin can help us to compete with City, not get left behind and win us the title back then it will be money well spent. Arsenal fans have suddenly turned against the man who in thier words could ‘score when he wanted last season’, no suprise. Nasri was the same, but look who has had the last laugh in that argument. As it has been said previously, if Rooney had signed for City I wouldnt have been happy…it would show inferioty to a bigger,stronger better club and SAF would not allow that to happen. Wenger has allowed this to hapopen on too many occasions, money plays a big factor but in the same way Arsenal have shot themselves in the foot by not competing in the market.
This signing makes us closer to City, who I beleive, will be the team to beat. Although, they have only bought Rodwell, I beleive last season will give them belief and experience to think they can go again….in Hart, Kompany, Toure, Aguero and Tevez, they have a spine that is the best in the league. However, although a full back (right or left) & a centre midfielder may still be needed….I have no doubt the return of Vidic & Cleverly, alongwith experience gained by De Gea and the imminent arrival of RVP will help bridge the tiny gap that helped City to the title & go back to frightening teams with attacking, creative football.
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Chelsea Reply:
August 17th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
RvP is a great player, but he’s pushing 30. He’ll give you a few good seasons, fitness permitting. You certainly have an impressive looking selection of forwards going into next season.
It’s a shame that aside from Kagawa your midfield is weak. Carrick and Anderson are shit, Nani is inconsistent, Cleverly is injury prone, Giggs and Scholes are ancient and Fletcher is both shit and injury prone. I’m sure there are others, like Valencia, but he’s more likely to play at wing back next season as you’ve got no decent full backs either!
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August 16th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Smashing deal for the Arsenal! Well done Wenger for this highway robbery and well done Fergie for masterfully outbidding himself
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August 16th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
An awesome amount of self indulgent conjecture. Well done sir.
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August 16th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Great piece, Chudi.
So interesting how rivalries work. It only seems like 5 minutes ago that Sir Alex discounted the derby rivalry as a thing of the past. It took only a Thai fraudster and a bored Abu Dhabi to change all of that, so it’s not unlikely that the dynamic could change.
Although I can’t disagree with the sentiment, I sincerely hope that the Arsenal-United rivalry isn’t dead. I will still have butterflies on the morning of the fixture this season and I will still carry the memories of Viera, Keane, Giggs, Keown and Schmeichel into the game. It’s just not a feeling kindled with a team like Chelsea, and we’ve played a Champions League final against them!
I’m really positive with van Persie’s signing. Keeping Rooney as high up the park as possible is a proven tactic, and van Persie’s skill and ability in dropping off the attack only compliments this. Arsenal fans citing age and injuries smacks a little of resentment, which is perfectly understandable in the circumstances.
Great writing, Chudi.
Dave
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August 16th, 2012 at 10:49 pm
uMad arsenal fans?
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August 17th, 2012 at 8:39 am
You obviously dont understand the ffp rules coming in. United still run at an operating profit.
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Red mick Reply:
August 17th, 2012 at 8:42 am
@ maurice johnson
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