TURN BACK THE CLOCK
Twenty-five years on from Manchester United and Arsenal’s famous FA Cup semi-final tie, Ryan Baldi speaks to the players that made it one of the defining moments of the era
On April 15, 1999, Alex Ferguson enjoyed lunch at Newmarket Racecourse. It was a brief respite from an increasingly hectic schedule for the Manchester United manager as his side chased down an unprecedented treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies. Taking advantage of a narrow gap in his packed diary, he’d taken a 6.50am flight from Manchester to Stansted before travelling by car to the gallops of trainer Ed Dunlop, then on to the stables of Henry Cecil and Sir Michael Stoute. Later that afternoon, he’d watch Frankie Dettori ride two winners.
TURN BACK THE CLOCK
Ferguson had bought his first racehorse the previous year – named Queensland Star after a vessel his father had worked on in the Govan shipyards. The world of racing was his latest fascination. An escape from the demands of the day job had never been so welcome as it was on this day. A Champions League semi-final second leg away to Juventus loomed less than a week away, and the previous evening Ferguson had overseen one of the most dramatic matches of his managerial career.
Meetings between United and Arsenal had long been box-office events. But since Arsene Wenger had arrived at Highbury in the early weeks of the 1996-97 season, these clashes brought together the two best teams English football had to offer. The previous campaign had seen Arsenal usurp United atop the Premier League and claim the double after winning the FA Cup.
Before they were drawn as opponents in the 1998-99 FA Cup semi-final, the Gunners were unbeaten in their last five clashes with Ferguson’s men, a run that included what was effectively a titledeciding victory at Old Trafford a year earlier and resounding back-to-back 3-0 drubbings, first in the Charity Shield then in an early season showdown at Highbury.
It was the beginning of an eradefining rivalry, and it was starting to look one-sided.
“Manchester United were flying,” recalls Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit. “They were the reference in the Premier League with Alex Ferguson. They had so many brilliant, amazing players, but we closed the gap in winning the double and putting pressure after the Charity Shield as well. It was not easy for Alex Ferguson and his players anymore. That was our target and we did it.”
“That was a great Arsenal team but losing the title to them really helped our mentality in the next season,” says United defender Ronny Johnsen.
“When you experience that, you don’t want to experience it again. It was really tough.”
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