Arsenal vs Manchester United is English football’s defining modern rivalry — the fixture that decided titles through the Ferguson vs Wenger years and still stops the Premier League every season. If you want the complete Arsenal vs Manchester United head to head story — results, goals and records — it is all here. This hub keeps the complete Arsenal vs Man Utd head to head record in one place: every meeting since 1894, the all-time wins, the goals, the top scorers and the games nobody will ever forget.
Arsenal vs Manchester United Head to Head: All-Time Record
The clubs first met on 13 October 1894, when Newton Heath (now Manchester United) drew 3–3 with Woolwich Arsenal (now Arsenal). Counting every competitive meeting since — 246 games in all competitions — Manchester United hold a narrow lead, but Arsenal have dominated the recent years of the fixture.
| Competition | Played | Arsenal wins | Draws | Man Utd wins | Arsenal goals | Man Utd goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League (all divisions / Premier League) | 214 | 78 | 50 | 86 | 301 | 319 |
| Premier League era only (1992– ) | 68 | 22 | 19 | 27 | 80 | 92 |
| All competitions | 246 | 91 | 55 | 100 | 351 | 369 |
Figures as of the last meeting on 25 January 2026.
Top Scorers in Arsenal vs Manchester United
| Player | Club(s) | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne Rooney | Manchester United | 12 |
| David Herd | Arsenal & Manchester United | 11 |
| Thierry Henry | Arsenal | 9 |
Rooney’s 12 goals came in 30 appearances against Arsenal. Ryan Giggs holds the appearance record for the fixture with 50 matches. Henry remains Arsenal’s most prolific scorer in this rivalry.
Biggest Wins & Records
- Biggest win: Manchester United 8–2 Arsenal — Premier League, 28 August 2011 (also the fixture’s highest-scoring game).
- Arsenal’s biggest win: 5–0 — FA Cup fourth round, 30 January 1937.
- Record attendance: 99,219 at Wembley for the 1979 FA Cup final.
- Most appearances: Ryan Giggs (50). Top scorer: Wayne Rooney (12).
Iconic Meetings
1979 FA Cup Final — Arsenal 3–2 Manchester United. The “five-minute final”: Arsenal led 2–0 until the 86th minute, United scored twice in three minutes, and Alan Sunderland won it for Arsenal a minute later.
8 May 2002 — Manchester United 0–1 Arsenal. Sylvain Wiltord’s goal at Old Trafford sealed the Premier League title on United’s own ground, completing Arsenal’s Double.
24 October 2004 — Manchester United 2–0 Arsenal. The “Battle of the Buffet” — United ended Arsenal’s record 49-match unbeaten league run in one of the spikiest games of the Ferguson–Wenger era.
28 August 2011 — Manchester United 8–2 Arsenal. The most extraordinary scoreline of the Premier League era, with a Rooney hat-trick in an eight-goal rout at Old Trafford.
Last Five Meetings
| Date | Match | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 2026 | Arsenal 2–3 Manchester United | Premier League |
| 17 Aug 2025 | Manchester United 0–1 Arsenal | Premier League |
| 9 Mar 2025 | Manchester United 1–1 Arsenal | Premier League |
| 12 Jan 2025 | Arsenal 1–1 Manchester United (United won on penalties) | FA Cup |
| 4 Dec 2024 | Arsenal 2–0 Manchester United | Premier League |
Next Meeting: Arsenal vs Manchester United
The next chapter is a Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 20 December 2026 (16:30 UK time). Arsenal go into this season’s fixture as the league’s pace-setters, while United — winners of the last meeting in January — will try to protect their all-time lead in the series. Our full match preview, team news and betting tips will land on SportsBuddy in the days before kick-off.
Backing a winner? See our Today’s Football Predictions & Betting Tips for the day’s 1UP picks, Over 2.5 goals, BTTS and Double Chance selections — updated every morning.