On this day in 2004, Manchester United ended Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten run at Old Trafford. Arsenal did not take the loss very well…
A first-half penalty from Ruud van Nistelrooy had United halfway there at the interval before Wayne Rooney netted the winner on his 19th birthday.
𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐃𝐃𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐃𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐃𝐃𝐖𝐃𝐖𝐖𝐃𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐃𝐖𝐃𝐖𝐃𝐃𝐃𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐃𝐖𝐖𝐖𝐋
🗓️ #OnThisDay in 2004, Manchester United ended Arsenal’s famous 49 game unbeaten run at Old Trafford.
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 24, 2022
It then caused the infamous ‘Battle of the Buffet’ down the tunnel, when a bitter Cesc Fabregas threw a slice of pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson, who was beaming from the full-time whistle.
Post-match, Fergie said: “The best young players, like Rooney and Ronaldo, can handle the biggest games.”
Rooney certainly could – as he went on to score 15 times in 35 meetings with Arsenal in all competitions.