It’s second against third – It’s Mikel Arteta against King Edward | OneFootball

Arsenal v Newcastle up next and United have a rivalry with Sunday’s opponents that goes back well into the last century.

The two famous old clubs contested the 1932 FA Cup Final at Wembley and it was the Magpies who lifted the trophy beating the Gunners 2-1.

The match itself became known as the ‘Over the line Final’ because of Newcastle’s contentious equaliser.

A long ball had been sent down the right channel that Jimmy Richardson chased to the byline. The ball had seemingly just went out of play, before Richardson crossed for Jack Allen to score.

Allen would score again and the Cup was joyfully heading back to Tyneside for a third time.

The teams met again at Wembley in the FA Cup Final in 1952 and a superb George Robledo header settled the score, as United became the first side to claim back to back FA Cup triumphs in the 1900s.

George’s goal was later immortalised by John Lennon, who used a picture he had drawn as an 11 year old on the cover of his 1974 album ‘Walls and Bridges’.

Arsenal of course have now went on to win more FA Cups than any other side in the competition’s history.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the Gunners were a more successful side than Newcastle.

In the 1990s Arsenal then became an unmistakable force, firstly under George Graham, before Arsene Wenger’s arrival into the marble halls of Highbury transformed them into a truly elite team.

Newcastle also had a bloody good team in the mid 90s and along with the Gunners we were seen as the main rivals to Fergie’s Manchester United.

It was the Wenger boys who would ultimately do the trick, when they achieved a superb Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998.

They defeated a lacklustre and uninspired Newcastle United under Kenny Dalglish, in that year’s final.

One of United’s finest away victories in the EPL happened at Highbury shortly before Christmas 2001.

Sir Bobby Robson’s Magpies were soaring high at the time and United beat the Gunners 3-1. Second half goals from Andy O’Brien, an Alan Shearer penalty and an excellent last gasp Laurent Robert effort sealed the deal.

Arsenal weren’t at all happy (after all, they were soon set to become the ‘Invincibles’), and Wenger moaned whilst Thierry Henry through a hissy on the pitch after the game.

There have been a few more memorable games down the years between the two sides.

The incredible 4-4 draw at St James’ Park obviously stands out, as does United’s 2-0 win at Gallowgate in 2022 that stopped Arteta’s Gunners qualifying for the Champions League.

I honestly think it was because of this result that Mikel Arteta seriously doesn’t like us, why he is so lacking in grace and manners when we regularly beat them.

The two highest profile players that have played for both United and Arsenal are George Eastham and Malcolm Macdonald.

The likes of Pat Howard in the 70s, then more recently Mathieu Debuchy, Sol Campbell, Mikel Merino, Isaac Hayden and Joe Willock have also pulled on the famous colours of the sides.

As the build up to our shootout with the Gunners at the Emirates gathers pace, I’ve a feeling we are all in for another cracker.

It’s 2nd against 3rd, It’s Arteta against King Edward, It’s Rice (if fit) against Tonali, It’s Saliba v Ice Cold Alex.