Arsenal 1–2 Manchester United
Villa Park in 2008
Event1998–99 FA Cup semi-final replay
Arsenal Manchester United
1 2
After extra time
Date14 April 1999 (1999-04-14)
VenueVilla Park, Birmingham
RefereeDavid Elleray (Harrow)
Attendance30,223

The replay of the 1998–99 FA Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Manchester United, sometimes titled The Epic, was a football match that took place at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, on 14 April 1999.[1]

David Beckham scored an early goal for Manchester United, with Dennis Bergkamp equalising in the second half. Roy Keane, United's captain, was sent off, and Peter Schmeichel saved a Bergkamp penalty kick to send the game to extra time.[2][3] Ryan Giggs scored a goal in extra time to give United a 2–1 victory and send them through to the 1999 FA Cup final.[4]

The game is often described as one of Manchester United's greatest ever, and Giggs' winning goal is frequently cited as one of the greatest goals ever scored in English football.[5] Rob Smyth of The Guardian described it as "the greatest game in the modern era of English football. […] this match […] had such gravitas, subtlety, intensity and excellence that it should have been shown on HBO.)"[6]

Background

Manchester United and Arsenal were rivals at the top of English football; Arsenal won the 1997–98 Premier League with United finishing second, and then Arsenal beat United 3–0 in the 1998 FA Charity Shield. The two teams competed for the 1998–99 Premier League and also met in the semi-final of the 1998–99 FA Cup, which was a 0–0 draw after extra time, necessitating a replay.[7]

Route to the semi-final

Arsenal Round Manchester United
OpponentResultReplay OpponentResultReplay
Preston North End 4–2 (A) — Third round Middlesbrough 3–1 (H) —
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 (A) — Fourth round Liverpool 2–1 (H) —
Sheffield United 2–1 (A)[lower-alpha 1] 2–1 (A) Fifth round Fulham 1–0 (H) —
Derby County 1–0 (H) — Sixth round Chelsea 0–0 (H) 2–0 (A)
Manchester United 0–0 a.e.t.
(N)		 — Semi-final Arsenal 0–0 a.e.t.
(N)		 —

Match

Details

Arsenal1–2 (a.e.t.)Manchester United
Bergkamp 69' Report Beckham 17'
Giggs 109'
Attendance: 30,223
Referee: David Elleray (Harrow)
Arsenal
Manchester United
GK1England David Seaman
RB2England Lee Dixon
CB6England Tony Adams (c)
CB14England Martin KeownYellow card 29'
LB3England Nigel Winterburn
RM15England Ray ParlourYellow card 61'downward-facing red arrow 105'
CM4France Patrick Vieira
CM26France Emmanuel Petitdownward-facing red arrow 120'
LM8Sweden Fredrik Ljungbergdownward-facing red arrow 62'
CF10Netherlands Dennis Bergkamp
CF9France Nicolas Anelka
Substitutes:
GK24England John Lukic
DF4England Steve Bouldupward-facing green arrow 120'
DF7Argentina Nelson Vivas
MF11Netherlands Marc Overmarsupward-facing green arrow 62'
FW25Nigeria Nwankwo Kanuupward-facing green arrow 105'
Manager:
France Arsène Wenger
GK1Denmark Peter Schmeichel
RB2England Gary Neville
CB5Norway Ronny Johnsen
CB6Netherlands Jaap StamYellow card 31'
LB12England Phil Neville
RM7England David BeckhamYellow card 35'
CM8England Nicky Butt
CM16Republic of Ireland Roy Keane (c)Yellow card 33' Yellow-red card 74'
LM15Sweden Jesper Blomqvistdownward-facing red arrow 61'
CF10England Teddy Sheringhamdownward-facing red arrow 75'
CF20Norway Ole Gunnar Solskjærdownward-facing red arrow 91'
Substitutes:
GK17Netherlands Raimond van der Gouw
DF3Republic of Ireland Denis Irwin
MF11Wales Ryan Giggsupward-facing green arrow 61'
MF18England Paul Scholesupward-facing green arrow 76'
FW19Trinidad and Tobago Dwight Yorkeupward-facing green arrow 91'
Manager:
Scotland Alex Ferguson

Statistics

Overall[9]
Statistic Arsenal Manchester United
Goals scored 1 2
xG 2.51 1.62
Total shots 27 16
Shots on target 9 4
Ball possession 56% 44%
Pass completion 73% 72%
Passes (completed) 726 (532) 579 (417)
Pressures 167 195
Pressure Regains 50 47
Tackles won (Attempted) 31 (43) 30 (48)
Yellow cards 2 3
Red cards / Second yellows 0 / 0 0 / 1

Aftermath

"A rather weary one from Vieira. Giggs gets past Vieira, past Dixon who comes back at him... it's a wonderful run from GIGGS! Sensational goal from Ryan Giggs in the second period of extra time. He's cut Arsenal to ribbons and the team with 10 men go back in front 2-1".

— TV commentary by Martin Tyler[10]

In the 1999 FA Cup Final, Manchester United beat Newcastle United 2–0 to win the Cup.[11]

The game is remembered as one of the greatest in English football; it was ranked #38 in The Times' 50 Greatest Football Matches (2019).[12]

Giggs' winning goal is also considered among the greatest ever scored, and his celebration, removing his shirt to reveal copious chest hair, is considered an iconic image by football fans.[13][14] Ian Wright described it as "arguably one of the best goals in FA Cup history."[15] It has been compared to Diego Maradona's solo goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final.[16]

Both Ray Parlour and Arsène Wenger admitted to being "haunted" by the defeat and Giggs' goal.[17][18]

A statistical analysis of the game in The Independent in 2019 gave Arsenal 2.51 expected goals (xG) to United's 1.62; Dennis Bergkamp's penalty miss was considered a key moment that won the game for United.[19]

Notes

  1. ↑ Both sides felt that Arsenal's winning goal had been gained unfairly. Marc Overmars scored following Nwankwo Kanu's failure to return the ball to Sheffield United following an injury. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger offered to replay the tie.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "REWIND: On This Day in 1999 Arsenal clashed with Manchester United in a momentous FA Cup semi-final replay". onlinegooner.com.
  2. ↑ "Man Utd v Arsenal: Five most memorable meetings". TheFA.com.
  3. ↑ "Peter Schmeichel's save in 1999 FA Cup semi-final cost Arsenal the Double, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer". Sky Sports.
  4. ↑ "Arsenal 1 - 2 Man Utd". The Guardian. 13 April 1999.
  5. ↑ Walker, Dan (2016-10-20). Magic, Mud and Maradona: Cup Football's Finest Tales. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4711-3633-7.
  6. ↑ Smyth, Rob (15 April 2011). "The Joy of Six: FA Cup semi-final memories". The Guardian.
  7. ↑ "On This Day: Giggs tears Arsenal to ribbons". ManUtd.com.
  8. ↑ Campbell, Denis (14 February 1999). "Fair play wins in FA Cup row". The Guardian.
  9. ↑ "xG breakdown: United vs Arsenal, '99 semi-final". The Independent. 23 May 2019.
  10. ↑ Wilson, Jeremy (9 March 2015). "Manchester United v Arsenal: That Ryan Giggs wonder goal remembered". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "Man United 2 Newcastle 0 1999 FA Cup final highlights". ManUtd.com.
  12. ↑ Whitehead, Richard (2019-03-01). The Times 50 Greatest Football Matches. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-9115-5.
  13. ↑ Revolta, Doug (20 May 2014). "Ryan Giggs: 10 of his greatest games for Manchester United". The Guardian.
  14. ↑ Ansorge, Paul. "Remembering Ryan Giggs' Manchester United vs. Arsenal 1999 FA Cup Semi-Final". Bleacher Report.
  15. ↑ "MOTD Top 10: How you ranked greatest Premier League era goals". BBC Sport.
  16. ↑ "Giggs - 1,027 games, 34 trophies, one legend". BBC Sport.
  17. ↑ Hopkinson, Tom (7 March 2015). "Arsene Wenger admits THAT Ryan Giggs FA Cup goal against Arsenal still gives him nightmares". Daily Mirror.
  18. ↑ Orme, Daniel (21 February 2023). "Ray Parlour admits he can't watch back infamous Arsenal defeat". Irish Mirror.
  19. ↑ "xG breakdown: United vs Arsenal, '99 semi-final". The Independent. 23 May 2019.
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