When Arsenal made the trip to Old Trafford 13 years ago today, they were 13 points adrift of leaders Manchester United. What's more, just one team had defeated the Red Devils in front of their own supporters so far that season.
However, if there was one side capable of collecting a positive result from the home of the champions, it was the Gunners, who were unbeaten there from their last four trips.
The title race may have been over, but Arsenal were still expected to provide United with a stern test. Ultimately, the absence of the experienced defensive trio of Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Lee Dixon hampered the North Londoners dearly.
There was a sign of things to come within the opening two minutes when United striker Dwight Yorke broke the deadlock from close range after he had latched onto the end of Paul Scholes's low cross from the right.
However, when Sylvain Wiltord and Robert Pires linked to fashion a chance for Thierry Henry, which he duly converted by flicking the ball inside Fabien Barthez's near post in the 16th minute, it seemed as though Arsenal were prepared to make life difficult for their hosts.
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Six minutes later, though, the match was all abut over as a contest as Yorke completed his hat-trick. First he beat the offside trap to roll the ball underneath David Seaman, before he got the better of Igor Stepanovs to chest down David Beckham's lofted pass and then fire into the bottom corner of the net.
As the rout continued, Yorke turned provider in the 26th minute when he picked out an advancing Roy Keane inside the area. The Irish midfielder took one touch and then sent a half-volley beyond the reach of Seaman.
Despite being three goals to the good, there was no let up from United as they added a fifth before the break. Nicky Butt skipped away from Gilles Grimandi and the midfielder went on to pick out Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who calmly slotted the ball in from six yards out.
Even by that point, some Arsenal supporters had left the ground. Had they remained, then they would have seen their team halt the onslaught during the second half, although that was partly due to the fact that the hosts had notably started to move down through the gears.
They still managed to add a sixth goal in the closing stages. Solskjaer cut inside to pick out substitute Teddy Sheringham and the veteran frontman converted his chance from 12 yards out.
MAN UNITED: Barthez; G Neville, Brown, Stam, Silvestre; Beckham, Butt, Keane, Scholes; Yorke, Solskjaer
ARSENAL: Seaman; Luzhny, Grimandi, Stepanovs, Cole; Silvinho, Pires, Vieira, Parlour; Wiltord, Henry
Liam Apicella
