Football Memories: Man Utd end Arsenal Unbeaten Record: 13 Years after Pizza Gate
Since Former United States President Richard Nixon's Water gate scandal, the word gate has become so well know that the gate has become detached and added to any name relating to a scandal
We have had other gates such as Volgate, winegate and in 1997 President Bill Clinton was involved in an affair with his secretary Monica Lewinsky and it was labelled Lewinsky gate but on a day United had beaten Arsenal ending their unbeaten run a new gate was coined after an Arsenal Player ( reportedly Fabregas) threw a Pizza on Man Utd Manager Sir Alex Ferguson and this was labelled ''Pizzagate''
In the concluding years of the 20 th century down the first 5 years of the new century there used to be a Premier League match that made football lovers salivate and fantasize more than any. It was Man United facing Arsenal. The duo clubs won amongst them 9 premier League titles in that era with United scooping 6 out of the 9
On this Day 24/10/2004 Man Utd hosted Arsenal FC in the English Premier League. Previous Encounters between the two clubs were ferocious and we did witness sending offs and after match confrontations but this was not just an ordinary Arsenal side coming to old Trafford. It was a side that had not tasted defeat in 49 League games and a win at Old Trafford would have made it half a century games of invisibility in the EPL. However Sir Alex Ferguson and his team were not willing to let his opposite number have that party in his own domain. The last encounter at Old Trafford ended in a frantic way with Patrick Vieira sent off for nasty acts and Ruud Van Nisterlrooy being rough handled by the likes of Martin Keown and Cameroon's Lauren and eventually missing a 90th minute penalty which struck the upright and was cleared away.
Arsenal had began the season already in fine fashion and were already 11 points ahead of united who had started very badly. But on this day United were not willing to be second best or share the points.
United Manager fielded a strong side with Ruud Van Nisterlrooy and Wayne Rooney starting Up with Cristiano Ronaldo on the flank. Arsenal on the other hand fielded a strong team with Patrick Vieira in Midfield and Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp up as forwards.
It was a Sunday late kick of game and Mike Riley took the center stage with his stop watch and whistle in his hand. The first half of the game saw Arsenal's Thierry prevented by a good save for Roy Carroll and stayed goalless till half time. However in the second half of the game as Arsenal came out for the kill united capitalised as Wayne Rooney went down in a rather theatheric and dubious way to a seemingly Sol Campbell tackle in the box. It was Mike Riley's 8th penalty award to United in 8 games he had officiated. Ruud Van Nisterlrooy stepped up even though his last two penalties against Jens Lehman were fruitless. But on this occasion he dispatched it to the lower bottom of the goal sending the German shot stopper the wrong way and in a dramatic way he skidded across in full stretch with his both hand expressing great joy and revel as he celebrated his 73rd minute goal. The game continued with United having a serious penalty claim when Ashley Cole brought down Cristiano Ronaldo which was more of a convincing penalty than the first but Mike Riley was in no mood to give another penalty. As Arsenal FC came out to find an equalizer United countered and substitutes Saha and Alan Smith exchanged passes with Smith handing Wayne Rooney a killer square ball which he put inside Jehns Lehman goal to make it two nil. It was his 19th Birthday and a goal to remember. As referee Mike Riley ended the game there were altercations and
arguments between both players and even Managers as Wenger calling United players a cheat. As the argument heightened young Cesc Fabregas threw a Pizza which fell on Sir Alex Ferguson. It was a great win for Man United and a victory that reduced the point gap between both teams to eight. But then Arsenal had seen their record broken, a defeat that began years of decline for Manager Arsene Wenger and his employers Arsenal FC