Manchester United versus Arsenal is a rivalry ingrained into the very DNA of the Premier League – and one of their most famous clashes came 20 years ago to this day.
Matches between the two in the era of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger would often be littered with controversy along with moments of magic.
And perhaps the match that lives longest in the memory for both sets of supporters is the infamous ‘Battle of the Buffet’ – also known as ‘Pizzagate’ – at Old Trafford that ultimately ended Arsenal’s 49-match unbeaten run in 2004.
Goals from Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy sparked wild celebrations amongst United fans and fury from Arsenal players and supporters with even a then teenage Cesc Fabregas throwing a slice of pizza at Ferguson during a tunnel melee after the match.
Two decades on, Mail Sport looks back at where the stars that delivered one of the Premier League’s classic encounters are now.
Manchester United and Arsenal locked horns in an epic clash on this day 20 years ago
The contest was a tempestuous affair that was later dubbed the ‘Battle of the Buffet’
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United ended the 49-match unbeaten run of Arsenal’s invincibles
MANCHESTER UNITED
GK: Roy Carroll
The Northern Irishman made 72 appearances across four years at Old Trafford and most United supporters will tell you even that was far too many as Carroll made a catalogue of errors throughout his stint, most notably the infamous ghost goal incident against Spurs.
He managed a rare clean sheet against Arsenal in the famous match two decades ago and had several spells across England and European football before returning to his home nation.
Carroll suprisingly came out of retirement at the age of 45 for Ballinamallard United before again hanging up his boots last year and is now attempting to go into coaching.
Roy Carroll made 72 appearances across four-years at Old Trafford and most United supporters will tell you even that was far too many
RB: Gary Neville
It’s hard to work out whether Neville is now more famous for his stunning United career, Sky Sports punditry alongside Jamie Carragher, or his expanding business empire across Manchester. But, it’s safe to say retirement has treated the former full-back well.
Admittedly, Neville is now one of the busiest and well-known former players with his time split between hosting a podcast, being one of the best Premier League pundits, spilling his political views on social media, running various multi-million pound projects and being a father/husband to his family.
Neville had his fair share of run-ins with Arsenal throughout the years but has tipped them to win the league this season.
Gary Neville has thrived in business and punditry since retiring from playing in 2011
CB: Rio Ferdinand (MOTM)
The legendary centre-back captained Man United to victory against Arsenal and looking back was lucky to escape punishment after he bundled over Freddie Ljungberg in the feisty clash when the game was still goalless.
Ferdinand became one of the club’s greatest-ever players by winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League and several other major honours during a storied career at Old Trafford.
Since retiring, the 45-year-old has gathered a mass online following presenting his own YouTube show and podcast that continues to gain popularity with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham featuring in recent episodes.
The legendary centre-back captained Man United to victory against Arsenal during the Battle of the Buffet
CB: Mikael Silvestre
The Frenchman was at his best alongside Ferdinand as they kept Arsenal at bay for 90 minutes. Four years later, he swapped United for the Gunners.
Silvestre only spent two years at Arsenal before later becoming a journeyman across Europe and America in the twilight years of his career but is still remembered fondly by both sets of supporters.
Now, Silvestre keeps himself busy by working as an ambassador for United helping to promote the club at various events and is the CEO of Talent Lyfe sports agency that he helped launch in 2020.
Mikael Silvestre keeps himself busy by working as an ambassador for United helping to promote the club at various events
LB: Gabriel Heinze
The Argentine defender didn’t need long to make an impact in Manchester and coincidentally didn’t stick around in England for any considerable amount of time either and eventually left under acrimonious circumstances.
Moves to Real Madrid, Marseille, and Roma followed before he returned to Argentina to see out the remainder of his career where he still resides as manager of Newell’s Old Boys.
Heinze began and ended his career at the club that also gave Lionel Messi the chance to showcase his skills as a child and the rest as they say is history. He went into coaching after his stint as a player ended, most recently with Newell’s Old Boys in his homeland.
Gabriel Heinze didn’t need long to make an impact in Manchester and coincidentally didn’t stick around in England for any considerable amount of time either
CM: Paul Scholes
Etched into Man United folklore, Scholes is regarded as a legend at Old Trafford with 718 appearances, 155 goals, 25 trophies and countless pinpoint passes earning him cult status.
He enjoyed numerous brilliant matchups against Arsenal across a 20-year career in United’s midfield and was a key figure in ending the visitors unbeaten run.
Since retiring for good, Scholes has become one of the club’s harshest television pundits with his honest approach resonating with fans. He is also involved in several Class of 92 investments, including Salford City, had a brief spell in management and opened a gym in Oldham.
Etched into Man United folklore, Paul Scholes is regarded as a legend at Old Trafford
CM: Phil Neville
The other half of the iconic Neville duo that helped guide United to several top titles made over 300 appearances for the club prior to leaving the club to join Everton in 2005.
The 47-year-old has been attempting to become a successful manager since stopping playing, working as an assistant coach at Man United, managing the England Lionesses for three-years and now in charge of MLS side Portland Timbers having been sacked by David Beckham’s Inter Miami.
Neville shares a good friendship with his former United team-mates and is also a part-owner of Salford City.
Phil Neville has been attempting to become a successful manager since stopping playing
LM: Ryan Giggs
From teenage debutant to Man United’s all-time record appearance maker with 963 outings, Giggs was part of every one of their 13 Premier League title triumphs under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Welshman went on to keep playing for the club’s first-team until the age of 40 and retired in 2014 as United’s most decorated star in history.
He continued at Old Trafford as an assistant to former boss Jose Mourinho after stepping away from playing and went on to become Wales head coach before leaving the position amid off-field drama.
Giggs was cleared of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville, who declined to co-operate with a retrial that was due to start in June 2023.
From teenage debutant to Man United’s all-time record appearance maker with 963 outings, Ryan Giggs was part of every one of their 13 Premier League title triumphs
RM: Cristiano Ronaldo
As the only player to still be playing that featured in the Battle of the Buffet clash, Ronaldo’s longevity is an amazing achievement in itself.
Man United was just the start of the superstar’s crazy journey, with him becoming a serial Ballon d’Or and Champions League winner at Real Madrid, starring with Juventus and later returning to United for a second stint.
His veteran spell at Old Trafford ended in toxic circumstances but he is still loved by club supporters and is seeing out the remaining years of his career at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
As the only player to still be playing that featured in the Battle of the Buffet clash, Cristiano Ronaldo’s longevity is an amazing achievement in itself
ST: Wayne Rooney
Man United’s record goalscorer with 250 goals and an outright England legend, Rooney captained both teams after initially breaking through as a world class teenager.
Rooney remains in love with the sport that has dominated his life and is currently serving as Plymouth Argyle boss as the club attempt to push for a dream promotion to the Premier League.
The Englishman also had spells coaching at Derby, DC United and Birmingham.
Wayne Rooney is Man United’s record goalscorer with 250 goals and an outright England legend
ST: Ruud van Nistelrooy
The Dutchman was Arsenal’s arch villain whenever the two English giants did battle and was the difference maker in inflicting a miserable defeat on Arsenal on this day 20 years ago.
His rivalry with Martin Keown remains iconic as does Van Nistelrooy’s love for Man United after he returned to the club in the summer.
Current Old Trafford chief Erik ten Hag brought the celebrated former striker back to United as his new assistant with fans desperate to see his work with the current crop of stars return top honours. He rejoined United from PSV, where he won the Dutch cup.
Ruud van Nistelrooy returned to Manchester United in the summer as assistant manager
ARSENAL
GK: Jens Lehmann
The German goalkeeper was despised by Man United supporters when Arsenal were in town but was adored by Gunners fans for his antagonistic approach to goalkeeping.
Now, aged 54, the former shot-stopper is a popular television pundit in Germany where he comments on the Bundesliga and has even enjoyed a role as an actor.
Most recently, Lehmann was reportedly hit with jaw-dropping fine for property damage and attempted fraud in a German court.
Jens Lehmann was despised by Man United supporters when Arsenal were in town
RB: Lauren
The Cameroonian was tasked with keeping Giggs at bay during the Battle of the Buffet and won several titles with Arsenal as part of their ‘Invincibles’ squad.
Lauren is adored in Africa where he won the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon twice and now remains involved in several footballing capacities.
The former full-back serves as an Arsenal ambassador for the African continent and is a FIFA technical expert for talent development.
Lauren is adored in Africa where he won the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon twice and now remains involved in several footballing capacities
CB: Sol Campbell
The Englishman was Arsenal’s enforcer in their backline and was influential in helping the club become a dominant force in the early 2000s, winning two Premier League titles and three FA Cups.
Retirement life has seen the former Three Lions star flirt with stints coaching at various EFL clubs, work as an expert pundit and even attempt to run for Mayor of London at one point in time.
Now, Campbell is a partner and head of insights and coaching at TALNETS where he is tasked with talent identification and coaching for clients.
Retirement life has seen the former Three Lions star flirt with stints coaching at various EFL clubs amongst other ventures
CB: Kolo Toure
The Toure brothers are a household name amongst Premier League supporters with Yaya becoming a Premier League champion with Man City and Kolo starring at Arsenal.
The centre-back made a host of crucial blocks to keep Arsenal in with a chance of beating United in their infamous clash and later went on to play for City and Liverpool.
Toure is now an assistant youth manager in City’s stellar academy set-up and has previously managed at Wigan along with being involved in a support role at Leicester.
Kolo Toure starred during several years at Arsenal and is now coaching in Man City’s youth set-up
LB: Ashley Cole
Cole was loved by Arsenal supporters up only to then join their rivals, Chelsea, two years after the Battle of the Buffet where he became a true legend.
The 43-year-old made 228 appearances for Arsenal and proved to be a thorn against a young and inexperienced Ronaldo in this epic Old Trafford meeting.
Cole has been cutting his teeth in coaching since retiring and is loving life working as England assistant to interim Three Lions head coach Lee Carsley.
Ashley Cole has been cutting his teeth in coaching since retiring and is loving life working as England assistant
CM: Patrick Vieira
The villain of Man United who was a figurehead in the epic rivalry between the two clubs as Vieira and Roy Keane became midfield gladiators for their clubs.
He didn’t enjoy his best outing against United as Arsenal licked their wounds on the trip back to London, however he has since settled his rivalry with Keane since stopping playing.
Vieira is a respected manager across Europe with his most prolific role coming at Crystal Palace where he managed the Eagles across 74 games before being sacked last year. His most recent club was Strasbourg in France.
Vieira is a respected manager across Europe with his most prolific role coming at Crystal Palace
CM: Edu
The Brazilian is an Arsenal legend both as a player and now as the club’s sporting director where he and Mikel Arteta are trying to take Arsenal back to becoming Premier League champions.
Edu was a memorable Premier League midfielder during the Gunners’ incredible unbeaten run that was cruelly ended on a torrid trip to Old Trafford.
He is now tasked with bringing in new players that match Arteta’s ongoing bid to take the club back to the top of European football as the club’s sporting director.
Edu is an Arsenal legend both as a player and now as the club’s sporting director
LM: Antonio Reyes
Reyes started on the left-wing against Man United and was tasked with breaking through their defence, doing so on several occasions but unable to find the back of the net.
He made 110 appearances for Arsenal and became a Premier League champion with the club before eventually leaving England for Atletico Madrid in 2007.
Tragically, Reyes passed away in a car crash in 2019 at the age of 35.
Arsenal legend Antonio Reyes tragically passed away in a car crash in 2019 at the age of 35
RM: Freddie Ljungberg
Ljungberg had ambitions to become Arsenal manager after retiring from playing and momentarily did that when he served as interim first-team boss after Unai Emery’s sacking.
The Swede then stayed on in a coaching capacity as assistant coach to Arteta where he helped the Spaniard get through a tricky couple of first years in charge.
Ljungberg is now a Puma football ambassador.
Freddie Ljungberg had ambitions to become Arsenal manager after retiring from playing and momentarily did that as interim boss
ST: Dennis Bergkamp
Formed a devastating partnership with Henry during Arsenal’s glory years and always loved playing Man United, scoring 10 goals against Ferguson’s team over the years.
He has kept busy since leaving the pitch and had ambitions to become a world class manager and spent six years as an assistant coach at his first club, Ajax, before being sacked in 2017.
Bergkamp has teased a potential future return to Arsenal and also regularly features in Legends matches for various sides.
Dennis Bergkamp has teased a potential future return to Arsenal and also regularly features in Legends matches
Henry scored 175 Premier League goals with Arsenal, making 377 appearances for the club and helped guide a superstar squad to two English titles
ST: Thierry Henry
The French star is still the golden boy of Arsenal and deservedly so after becoming one of the best players in the world during a sensational career spell at the Gunners.
Henry scored 175 Premier League goals with Arsenal, making 377 appearances for the club and helped guide a superstar squad to two English titles and three FA Cups only to later leave for Barcelona.
Henry is now a beloved television pundit where he is part of an all-star punditry team presenting on American broadcaster CBS Sports, but his real passion remains in coaching where he guided France to an Olympic medal in the recent Paris Games.
The now 47-year-old quit his role as manager of the France Under 21s in August.
