On this day: Arsenal lose ‘Invincibles’ tag and pizzagate

Arsenal were 49 and out on this day in 2004 as Manchester United put an end to their long unbeaten run in an ill-tempered game at Old Trafford. The Gunners arrived at the Theatre of Dreams riding high at the top of the Premier League having picked up from where they left off in the previous season.
Arsene Wenger’s men had managed to go the entire 38-game campaign without defeat and were aiming to reach their half-century by avoiding defeat to United.
The closest Arsenal had come to losing during their unbeaten sequence had been on their last trip to Old Trafford, Ruud van Nistelrooy smashing the crossbar with a last-minute penalty as the north Londoners escaped with a goalless draw.
The football on that day in 2003 was secondary to the altercation between the two sets of players at full-time, dubbed the Battle of Old Trafford, which resulted in Lauren, Martin Keown, Patrick Vieira and Ray Parlour all receiving bans.
The animosity between the two clubs had only built in the period since that clash with tensions between Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson at an all-time high heading into this game.
It was to be Ferguson and United who had the last laugh on this occasion, the physicality of the hosts knocking Arsenal off their usually fluent stride as they reduced the gap on the Gunners at the top of the Premier League to eight points.
Wayne Rooney controversially won a penalty 17 minutes from full-time when he was adjudged to have been fouled by Sol Campbell, giving Van Nistelrooy the chance to exorcise the demons of his miss 12 months prior.
The Dutchman made no mistake as he sent Gunners goalkeeper Jens Lehmann the wrong way to give United a 1-0 lead.
Rooney, celebrating his 19th birthday, then wrapped up the win in the 90th minute when converting from close range as the Red Devils became the first team to conquer Arsenal in a Premier League match since Leeds United won 3-2 at Highbury in May 2003.
With tensions reaching boiling point at full-time, the action spilt into the tunnel as one of the most infamous incidents in Premier League history not involving a football took place.
In the narrow corridor outside the dressing rooms, the two teams clashed and in the ensuing melee United boss Ferguson was hit with a slice of pizza, thrown by an Arsenal player.
One of the longest-running games of ‘who done it?’ was the result and fans had to wait years before Cesc Fabregas finally confirmed it was he who slung a slice at Fergie.
The defeat would have far-reaching implications for Arsenal as they struggled to put the loss behind them, winning just one of their next five matches as they ultimately surrendered the title to Chelsea.
United would have to settle for third as Jose Mourinho’s Blues emerged as the new force in the top flight.