Manchester United vs. Arsenal: A Historical Rivalry
An In-Depth Look at the 2011/12 Season Fixture
Introduction
Manchester United and Arsenal are two of the most iconic clubs in English football, with a rivalry that dates back more than a century. The first fixture between the two sides in the 2011/12 Premier League season was played on August 28, 2011, at Old Trafford, with Arsenal emerging victorious by a score of 8-2. This match was notable for several reasons, including the record-breaking number of goals scored and the introduction of Robin van Persie to the Manchester United squad.
The Match
The match started brightly for Arsenal, with Theo Walcott scoring the opening goal in just the second minute. Manchester United equalized through Wayne Rooney in the 22nd minute, but Arsenal regained the lead through Gervinho in the 24th minute. The Gunners then took control of the match, with van Persie scoring his first goal for Manchester United in the 36th minute. Arsenal added two more goals before half-time through Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey, giving them a commanding 5-1 lead at the break.
Manchester United came out fighting in the second half, with Rooney scoring his second goal of the match in the 49th minute. However, Arsenal continued to dominate, with van Persie scoring his second goal in the 62nd minute and Arsenal adding two more goals through Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky in the 70th and 89th minutes, respectively.
Conclusion
The 8-2 defeat was Manchester United's heaviest home defeat in the Premier League era. It was also the first time that Arsenal had scored eight goals in a match against Manchester United. The match was a turning point in the season for both clubs, with Arsenal going on to finish third in the Premier League, while Manchester United finished seventh.
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