On this day, 26 years ago, Arsenal travelled to the North West to face Manchester United in their Football League First Division encounter. The game wasn’t particularly exciting for spectators and produced the single goal in favour of the North London side.
However, the fixture is remembered when goalscorer Anders Limpar and United defender Denis Irwin attempted to win the ball before Arsenal’s Nigel Winterburn tackled Irwin, sparking a pitch brawl involving 21 players. Only Limpar and Winterburn subsequently received a booking.
Both clubs wasted no time and fined a number of their players with Arsenal going as far as disciplining then-manager George Graham. The English FA followed suit, fining both clubs for bringing the game into disrepute.
Arsenal and Manchester United were also docked points for the brawl, with the former receiving a heftier point deduction for a similar precedent against Norwich City in 1989.
Nevertheless, this punishment didn’t dent Arsenal’s title hope as the Gunners went on to become league champions with just one defeat.
>More memorable events on this day:
1996: Manchester United concede biggest defeat in 12 years after losing 5 – 0 to Newcastle United.
2004: Formula One’s contract recognition board refuse to ratify Jenson Button’s move to Williams.
2011: Stuart Pearce and Hope Powell named by the FA as coaches for the British men’s and women’s football teams at the 2012 Olympic Games.
