Having won 33 League titles in total and lifting the FA Cup 11-times apiece, Arsenal and Manchester United are among the most successful sides in the history of English football. The two sides have already met twice this season – in the Premier League and FA Cup – with United winning in the former while Arsenal registered an emphatic victory to knock out the Old Trafford outfit in the last 8 of the latter.
On this day in 1895, Woolwich Arsenal (Currently known as Arsenal FC) met Newton Heath (later renamed to Manchester United) for the first time in their history. In what is seldom the case in modern football, the match had five different goal scorers with Peter Mortimer, Gavin Crawford and Robert Buchanan scoring for Arsenal while John Clarkin and Robert Donaldson netted for Newton Heath. Arsenal won 3-2 on the day on what was to be the beginning of one of the most competitive ties in the modern game.
The two sides are set to meet again on the penultimate game of the season in a match that could change the course of Champions League qualification.
30th March is thus considered the day modern football was born as two of the most glorious teams in England came head-to-head for the very first time.
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