Arsenal vs Man Utd: Results of last 5 meetings ahead of FA Cup clash | OneFootball

Arsenal vs Man Utd may have lost the even nature and fiery streak of the late 1990s and early noughties, but it remains one of football's most tantalising fixtures.

Many wars have been fought between these historic foes and the pendulum has often swung dramatically between north London and the red half of Manchester. Another instalment arrives on Sunday afternoon in the third round of the FA Cup - a first duel in the competition since 2019.

Neither side enter the fixture at their blistering best and the weekend clash has an air of uncertainty surrounding it, even if hosts Arsenal begin the contest as favourites.

But what do previous meetings indicate about the upcoming battle at the Emirates Stadium? Let's relive the five most recent meetings between Arsenal and Man Utd.

Set pieces were king for Arsenal in December / Julian Finney/GettyImages

A little over a month has passed since the most recent battle between these old rivals. The arena was the Emirates and it proved another unhappy trip to north London for Man Utd, who proceeded to lose away at Tottenham Hotspur two weeks later.

It certainly wasn't a classic instalment in what was Ruben Amorim's first defeat as Man Utd manager, with Arsenal's set-piece prowess coming to the fore. Two corner routines paid dividends as Jurrien Timber and William Saliba wrote their names on the scoresheet during the second half.

Man Utd mustered just two shots on target and created zero big chances, with Arsenal similarly blunt from open play during an unspectacular affair.

Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal - May 2024

Man Utd were no match for Arsenal / Michael Regan/GettyImages

Arsenal were desperate for a first Premier League title in two decades during the closing stages of last season and their penultimate fixture came at Old Trafford. It's not a venue that has often proven fruitful for the Gunners previously, but Erik ten Hag's uninspiring Red Devils made life too easy for their opponents.

Leandro Trossard's 20th-minute strike was all that separated the teams come the final whistle, with victory ensuring that Arsenal took the Premier League title race to the final day. Manchester City were secretly supporting their local foes for this particular duel, but were ultimately left disappointed.

It mattered little come the end of the following weekend, however, with Man City's final day victory over West Ham United securing yet another title for Pep Guardiola's side.

Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd - September 2023

Late drama at the Emirates stunned Man Utd / GLYN KIRK/GettyImages

Arsenal may have used up all the drama of this fixture in the first meeting between the sides in 2023/24. An early season clash between the giants was deadlocked at 1-1 heading into the dying embers of stoppage time, with Alejandro Garnacho having seen a likely winner ruled out for an incredibly marginal offside in the 88th minute.

But set pieces came up trumps for Arsenal once again, with Bukayo Saka's deep delivery fired home by Declan Rice in the sixth minute of added time via a deflection off veteran centre-back Jonny Evans. Wild celebrations inside the Emirates were repeated five minutes later.

This time it was a Man Utd set piece that played into Arsenal hands. The Gunners swiftly cleared a free kick and raced away as they sought a clinching two-goal cushion in the 101st minute, Gabriel Jesus converting the counter-attack to wrap up the points and net a first goal against Man Utd.

Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd - January 2023

Eddie Nketiah won it late for Arsenal / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

The start of a four-game winning streak for Arsenal in this fixture came at the beginning of 2023. Another home triumph in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta's side left it late once more as they broke Man Utd hearts.

Momentum regularly shifted in an enthralling meeting that started with Marcus Rashford opening the scoring, before Eddie Nketiah produced an equaliser just seven minutes later. The tables turned in the second half as Lisandro Martinez's header levelled for Man Utd six minutes after Saka had scored for the hosts.

Arsenal dominated for large periods and looked set to waste a prime opportunity, but Nketiah's 90th-minute tap-in secured a deserved late victory for the Gunners, who had created an expected goals tally of 3.25 to their visitors' 0.36.

Man Utd 3-1 Arsenal - September 2022

Marcus Rashford inspired Man Utd to their last victory over Arsenal / OLI SCARFF/GettyImages

You have to rewind to September 2022 for the last time Man Utd beat Arsenal in a competitive fixture. In fact, it was so long ago that Antony actually scored on his debut, with Old Trafford believing they had witnessed the entrance of an all-conquering new recruit. That didn't quite go to plan.

But regardless of Antony's subsequent deterioration, Man Utd came away with all three points thanks to the Brazilian's opener. Gabriel Martinelli had seen an effort ruled out for a questionable foul earlier in the match, but Saka did eventually secure an equaliser on the hour mark.

That parity didn't last for long, however, with Rashford's brace in the space of nine minutes settling an evenly-fought contest.