Arsenal are preparing to visit Old Trafford as their focus switches back to domestic matters following the highs of their 7-1 victory over PSV in the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s side are 13 points adrift of Liverpool in Premier League table and realistically are now fighting to secure second place and Champions League qualification for next season.
A trip to Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United is always a huge occasion for Arsenal fans given the rivalry between the two clubs over the years.
Martin Keown believes that Patrick Vieira was better than Roy Keane and that was just one of the many historic clashes between the two great clubs. Some players have even worn the shirt of both sides and loyalties can be divided when it come to this fixture.
Robin Van Persie reveals stance on favourite manager
Robin Van Persie broke the hearts of Arsenal fans when he left the club to join Manchester United in 2012. He also broke the heart of his manager Arsene Wenger at the time, who had developed and nurtured Van Persie into the world class striker he was.
Van Persie left to play under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford and fired United to the Premier League title in his first season at the club. However, when previous asked to choose between the two managers, the Dutchman was unable to give a response.
When asked who was better, Van Persie replied with: “Definitely both.” Meaning that his loyalties remain split under the two managers who guided him through a successful career.
Interestingly, Van Persie did also not choose between Arsenal and Manchester United as clubs or his former team mates Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney.
On Henry and Rooney, Van Persie explained: “Pass. Because they are both so different and very good.”
Arsene Wenger gave Sir Alex Ferguson advice when selling Van Persie
It was a tough period for the Gunners back in 2012, they were financially constricted following the move to the Emirates Stadium and Manchester United took advantage of that in the transfer market by snapping up Van Persie.
As per The Football Faithful, Ferguson once revealed what Wenger said about Van Persie when concluding the deal to take him to Old Trafford.
Ferguson stated: “I remember Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger saying to me ‘he’s better than you think’ when we concluded the deal. He was right. In terms of impact he has had as big an impact as anyone I can imagine.”
The Dutch striker scored 132 goals in his time at Arsenal but only ever won the FA Cup in 2005, beating Manchester United in the final on penalties.
It was at United where he finally tasted league success and his 58 goals in 105 games means he is now more fondly remembered in Manchester rather than in North London.