Arsenal vs Manchester United meets again on 25 January 2026 — a fixture built on 246 competitive encounters since October 1894. The clubs have traded memorable moments across title races, tunnel confrontations, and incidents that defined English football’s fiercest rivalry. Their most recent meeting delivered a five-goal thriller.

4 related posts

Total competitive matches: 246 · First competitive match: October 1894 · Next fixture: 25 January 2026 · Premier League leaders context: Arsenal · Recent thriller: Five-goal match

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Precise origin of the “39-0” myth — no evidence Arsenal ever won by that margin
  • Whether the 1952 8-2 claim holds up against primary sources
  • Exact current global fan figures for each club beyond UK polling data
3Timeline signal
  • October 1894: First meeting — over 130 years of history
  • January 1987: Ferguson cites this as rivalry’s true start
  • October 1996: Wenger arrives, rivalry enters its defining era
4What’s next
  • Premier League fixture: Arsenal vs Manchester United — 25 January 2026
  • Arsenal lead the title race and have won 5 of last 7 PL meetings
  • Old Trafford rematch follows Arsenal’s 1-0 win there in August 2025
Metric Value Source
Competitive meetings 246 Wikipedia rivalry page
Debut clash October 1894 Wikipedia rivalry page
Fixture date 25/01/2026 Sports Mole head-to-head records
Man Utd wins (all-time) 103 Sports Mole head-to-head records
Arsenal wins (all-time) 91 Sports Mole head-to-head records
Draws (all-time) 51 Sports Mole head-to-head records
Top scorer Wayne Rooney (12 goals) Wikipedia rivalry page
Most appearances Ryan Giggs (50) Wikipedia rivalry page
Highest Arsenal home win rate 67.1% (61 wins in 110 home games) Football.co.uk head-to-head stats
Biggest aggregate score Man Utd 8-2 Arsenal (2011/12 season) Sports Mole head-to-head records

Who’s better, Arsenal or Manchester United?

The short answer depends on which window of history you’re looking at. Across all 246 competitive meetings through January 2026, Manchester United hold a narrow overall edge with 103 wins to Arsenal’s 91, plus 51 draws — that slight advantage reflects decades of dominance before Arsenal’s revival under Arsene Wenger. However, the picture flips when examining Arsenal’s home record: in 110 matches at the Emirates (and Highbury before it), Arsenal have won 61 times (67.1%) compared to just 29 United victories, with 20 draws (Football.co.uk head-to-head stats). Recent Premier League form heavily favours Arsenal, who have won 5 of their last 7 meetings with United in the competition, including a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in August 2025 via Riccardo Calafiori’s goal (Sports Mole head-to-head records).

Head-to-head records

The fixture’s all-time record shows United’s historical dominance: 103 victories to Arsenal’s 91 across 246 meetings, with 51 draws producing 851 total goals (Sports Mole head-to-head records). Wayne Rooney remains the fixture’s top scorer with 12 goals, while Ryan Giggs made the most appearances at 50 — both records underscore United’s extended period of superiority in the Fergie era. But the trajectory has shifted: in their most recent Premier League meetings, Arsenal have been the stronger side, winning three of the last four: 2-0 (December 2024), 0-1 (May 2024), and 3-1 (September 2023) (Sporting News rivalry coverage).

Titles and trophies

Both clubs have accumulated substantial trophy cabinets over the decades, though this article focuses on the direct rivalry rather than a complete honours comparison. What matters for the H2H context is that United’s overall title-winning culture translated into more victories in this fixture during their peak periods — particularly under Sir Alex Ferguson, who managed United from 1986 to 2013 and shaped the rivalry’s modern character (Wikipedia rivalry page). Arsenal’s own golden era under Wenger (1996–2018) produced memorable wins and title races that intensified the animosity, with the rivalry reaching its peak between 1997 and 2005 when both clubs regularly contested for the Premier League.

Recent form

Arsenal’s recent dominance in this fixture is statistically unmistakable: they’ve won 5 of the last 7 Premier League meetings, keeping clean sheets in three of those victories (Sports Mole head-to-head records). The August 2025 win at Old Trafford was particularly significant — Riccardo Calafiori’s first-half strike proved the difference in a match where Arsenal controlled proceedings. December 2024 saw another comfortable 2-0 home victory, and the September 2023 Emirates meeting ended 3-1 in Arsenal’s favour (Sporting News rivalry coverage). The pattern suggests Arsenal enter the January 2026 fixture as clear favourites.

The implication: United’s historical edge in this rivalry is real but increasingly historical — Arsenal have reversed the trend in the current era, and the January 2026 meeting will test whether that momentum continues or United can recapture past glories under their new project.

Who is showing Man Utd v Arsenal?

For the 25 January 2026 Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Arsenal, UK viewers can check the official Premier League broadcast schedule, which typically includes matches on Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and BBC coverage for select games (Sky Sports rivalry retrospective). The Premier League’s official website and club fixture pages provide updated broadcast information as dates approach, and services like Flashscore aggregate results and TV listings for international audiences (Sporting News rivalry coverage). International viewers should consult their local rights holders — the Premier League’s global broadcast network covers most major markets through official streaming partners.

TV channels

Premier League matches involving Arsenal and Manchester United typically rotate between Sky Sports and TNT Sports in the UK, with the fixture’s significance often elevating it to main-event status. Check the Premier League fixture page closest to the date for confirmed broadcast details, as scheduling can shift based on European competition commitments.

Live stream options

Beyond traditional TV, the Premier League’s streaming rights have expanded to include NOW TV passes, Amazon Prime Video (which has carried select matches), and the official Premier League app for authenticated subscribers. Club websites like Arsenal.com often provide direct links to their broadcast partners’ coverage.

UK broadcast details

For the January 2026 fixture specifically, UK-based fans should monitor the Premier League’s official scheduling announcements, which typically confirm broadcast details 2-4 weeks before matchday. The Arsenal vs Manchester United clash regularly draws high viewership, making it a candidate for prime-time slots on either Sky Sports Main Event or TNT Sports.

How to watch Arsenal v Manchester United on TV?

Watching the Arsenal vs Manchester United fixture requires knowing which platform holds the rights for the specific match date. In the UK, the Premier League’s rotating broadcast system means not every meeting appears on television — some midweek fixtures stream exclusively on Amazon Prime. For the 25 January 2026 encounter, check the official Arsenal fixture page or Premier League broadcast listings for confirmed channels (Sporting News rivalry coverage).

Upcoming fixture 25/01/2026

The Premier League schedule for January 2026 places this fixture in a congested period following the festive programme. Arsenal enter the matchtop of the table, having built momentum through their recent H2H dominance over United. The match will likely feature in the broadcast schedule 2-3 weeks before kickoff — monitor Sky Sports’ published fixtures or the Premier League website for the confirmed channel.

Highlights and replays

For viewers unable to watch live, Premier League highlights are available on BBC One’s Match of the Day (Saturday evenings) and through Sky Sports’ on-demand services. The Premier League’s official YouTube channel and club social media accounts also publish match highlights shortly after final whistle.

International viewing

International audiences should consult their local broadcaster: NBC Sports (USA), Optus Sport (Australia), and DAZN (Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain) hold Premier League rights in their respective territories. The Premier League’s “Where to Watch” tool on the official site allows fans to input their location for accurate broadcast information.

Why this matters

The Arsenal vs United fixture consistently draws some of the season’s highest domestic ratings, meaning broadcast windows are often prime-time slots — but those also come with higher subscription costs if you’re relying on pay-TV packages.

Has Arsenal ever won Man U 39-0?

No credible source confirms an Arsenal victory over Manchester United by a 39-0 scoreline. The claim appears to circulate as an internet myth, likely confused with other footballing anomalies like the famous 100-0 Brazilian match or misremembered historical results. Extensive documentation of the Arsenal-United rivalry across Wikipedia rivalry page, Sports Mole head-to-head records, and Sky Sports rivalry retrospective shows no record of such a result. The fixture’s biggest confirmed margins include United’s 8-2 victory in the 2011/12 season and their 6-1 win at Old Trafford in March 2001 — both significant thrashings, but neither approach the mythical 39-goal margin.

Myth origins 9 September 1920

The date 9 September 1920 appears in some rivalry timelines as a reference point, but it relates to general club activities of the era rather than a record-setting match. Football records from the 1920s show competitive fixtures between the clubs but nothing approaching a 39-goal aggregate. The myth may have originated from early internet-era misinformation or confusion with other famous scorelines from English football history.

Actual scorelines

Verified high-scoring results in the rivalry include: Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal (August 2011), Manchester United 6-1 Arsenal (March 2001), Manchester United 6-2 Arsenal (1990/91 season), and Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United (January 2023) (Sporting News rivalry coverage). None of these match the 39-0 claim, and no primary source has documented such a result in any competition.

Biggest wins verified

The documented biggest wins in this fixture are United’s: the 8-2 at Old Trafford in the 2011/12 season remains the highest aggregate score, with Antonio Valencia, Danny Welbeck, and Wayne Rooney (twice) among the scorers (Sports Mole head-to-head records). Before that, the March 2001 6-1 saw Dwight Yorke complete a hat-trick, with Roy Keane, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and Andy Cole also on target. Arsenal’s biggest confirmed win in recent memory is the 3-1 victories in 2023 and 2023/24 seasons.

The catch: internet myths can persist indefinitely even without evidence. The 39-0 claim appears to have no basis in documented football history, but it continues circulating because extraordinary numbers generate clicks.

Who has more fans, United or Arsenal?

Manchester United generally rank among the top 2-3 most-supported clubs globally by social media following, while Arsenal maintain a top-5 position — both have massive, global fanbases that dwarf most other clubs (Sporting News rivalry coverage). In the UK specifically, polling data from 2023 shows United retain the largest domestic support base, with Arsenal as the clear second-most-supported club among traditional “big club” followings (ESPN rivalry ranking analysis). However, fan count estimates vary significantly depending on methodology — social media metrics favour United, while match-going attendance data at Arsenal’s 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium reflects consistently high domestic demand.

UK fandom stats 2023

UK-based surveys and supporter group data indicate Manchester United hold the largest domestic fanbase by a measurable margin, followed by Liverpool and Arsenal in the “big six” cluster. Arsenal’s geographic concentration in London and strong international diaspora give them particular strength in certain regions, but nationally, United’s historic dominance translates to larger raw numbers.

Global support

Internationally, United’s commercial reach and trophy cabinet from the Premier League era give them an edge in markets like Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Arsenal’s “Invincibles” period and continued presence in Champions League football maintain their international appeal, and the club’s large social media following (among the top five globally) reflects sustained global interest.

Rivalry fanbase

The fanbase rivalry itself is notable: United fans cite their superior trophy count and global reach, while Arsenal supporters point to longer London-area support networks and what some consider a more aesthetically pleasing playing style under Wenger. Liverpool is often cited as United’s closest domestic rival by their own fans, while Arsenal’s natural rivalry with Tottenham sometimes overshadows the United fixture for sections of their support.

The upshot

Fan count comparisons are inherently imprecise — social media metrics capture casual followers while match attendance reflects committed supporters. United likely lead on global reach, but Arsenal’s fanbase remains substantial and arguably more engaged in north London.

Category Arsenal Manchester United Source
All-time competitive matches 246 (91 wins) 246 (103 wins) Wikipedia rivalry page
Home record (at Arsenal’s ground) 61 wins (67.1%), 209 goals 29 wins, 129 goals Football.co.uk head-to-head stats
Top scorer in fixture — Wayne Rooney (12) Wikipedia rivalry page
Most appearances — Ryan Giggs (50) Wikipedia rivalry page
Recent PL form (last 7 meetings) 5 wins 1 win Sports Mole head-to-head records
Biggest recorded win 3-1 (multiple seasons) 8-2 (2011/12 season) Sports Mole head-to-head records
Last meeting result 2-0 win (Dec 2024) — Sporting News rivalry coverage
Players who played for both Brian Kidd, Andy Cole, David Platt, Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sánchez, George Graham Wikipedia rivalry page

What are the key moments in the rivalry?

The Arsenal-United rivalry has produced a remarkable catalogue of incidents, from on-pitch confrontations to tunnel bust-ups that entered football folklore. Sir Alex Ferguson pinpointed January 1987 as the rivalry’s true starting point: David Rocastle was sent off for retaliating against a foul on Norman Whiteside, sparking a brawl that Ferguson later cited as the moment the fixture became personal (Wikipedia rivalry page). The rivalry crystallised further when Arsene Wenger arrived in October 1996, creating the manager-against-manager dynamic that defined English football’s most intense tactical battleground.

The Battle of Old Trafford in September 2003 remains the fixture’s most infamous incident: a 0-0 draw where Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a penalty and Arsenal players surrounded him afterward, triggering mass confrontation and the infamous “Battle of the Buffet” where food was thrown in the tunnel (Sky Sports rivalry retrospective). Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira embodied the rivalry’s physicality across dozens of encounters, their midfield duels generating the tunnel confrontations that still get referenced decades later (ESPN rivalry ranking analysis).

Editor’s note

The 1979 FA Cup Final (Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United with Alan Sunderland’s goal in the final minute) is frequently cited as a rivalry cornerstone, but historians note the animosity predates that match and only intensified in the late 1990s when title races gave it competitive stakes beyond cup drama.

Key moments timeline

  • First competitive match between the clubs — the rivalry’s origin point (Wikipedia rivalry page)
  • David Rocastle sent off after Whiteside foul; Ferguson later cites this as rivalry’s true beginning (Wikipedia rivalry page)
  • Arsene Wenger joins Arsenal — the rivalry enters its defining era (Wikipedia rivalry page)
  • First Ferguson vs Wenger match; United win 1-0 via Nigel Winterburn own goal (Wikipedia rivalry page)
  • Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United in FA Cup Final — Alan Sunderland’s late winner (Football Ticket Pad rivalry history)
  • Manchester United 6-1 Arsenal at Old Trafford — Dwight Yorke hat-trick (Sky Sports rivalry retrospective)
  • “Battle of Old Trafford” — 0-0 draw, van Nistelrooy penalty miss, mass confrontation (Sky Sports rivalry retrospective)
  • Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal at Old Trafford — highest aggregate score in fixture history (Sports Mole head-to-head records)
  • Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United at Emirates (Sporting News rivalry coverage)
  • Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United at Old Trafford via Calafiori goal (Sports Mole head-to-head records)
  • Next Premier League fixture — Arsenal vs Manchester United

What’s confirmed vs what’s rumoured

Confirmed facts

  • 246 competitive meetings through January 2026 (51 draws, United leading on wins)
  • First match in October 1894
  • Wayne Rooney holds record with 12 goals in the fixture
  • Ryan Giggs made most appearances (50)
  • Arsenal have won 5 of last 7 Premier League meetings
  • Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal in 2011/12 is the biggest recorded aggregate
  • Rivalry intensified from January 1987 onward (per Ferguson)

Unverified claims

  • “39-0” Arsenal win — no primary source has documented this
  • Specific fan count comparisons — methodologies vary too widely for reliable figures
  • 1952 8-2 Arsenal win — not found in documented sources
  • Exact global fan valuations — commercial data is proprietary

What people are saying

A historic fixture that has thrown up many a memorable moment — the 8-2 Theatre of Dreams destruction, Arsene Wenger in the Old Trafford stands, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira’s tunnel bust-up.

— Sports Mole (Sports Analysis Publication)

Sir Alex Ferguson believed the rivalry started in January 1987 when David Rocastle was sent off for retaliating against a foul on Norman Whiteside.

— Wikipedia (citing Ferguson’s account)

If rivalries are ultimately about raw aggression and competitiveness, this was the pairing that set the standard.

— Miguel Delaney, ESPN (Football Journalism)

Bottom line: Arsenal vs Manchester United is a rivalry built on 130+ years of competitive matches — 246 through January 2026 — where United hold a slim historical win count but Arsenal have dominated the recent head-to-head. United must break that recent pattern on 25 January 2026 to avoid another damaging result in their most storied fixture.

Related reading: Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Stats: H2H, Results & Predictions

Additional sources

m.aiscore.com, goonernews.com, 11v11.com

The rivalry’s myths, like the debunked 39-0 tale, come alive in reviewing Man Utd vs Arsenal H2H, alongside infamous clashes such as the 8-2 thrashing.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What channel is Man United playing today?

For specific matchdays, check the Premier League’s official broadcast schedule on the Premier League website or your TV provider’s sports listings. Arsenal vs Manchester United fixtures typically appear on Sky Sports or TNT Sports in the UK.

Who is Man U’s biggest rival?

Manchester United fans commonly cite Liverpool as their primary domestic rival, with Arsenal, Manchester City, and Leeds United also ranking high in the traditional rivalry hierarchy. The United-Liverpool fixture is considered the most intense by most supporters.

How much is Man United worth?

Manchester United’s valuation has fluctuated with ownership changes and market conditions, but Forbes and similar publications regularly update club valuations — check current financial publications for the latest figures on United’s market worth as a sports enterprise.

Who is Arsenal’s number 1?

Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper position has varied by season. For the 2025/26 season, check Arsenal’s official squad list on Arsenal.com for the current goalkeeper hierarchy.

Who did Arsenal beat 12-0?

A 12-0 Arsenal victory has no documented record in senior competitive football. The club’s highest confirmed margins include various high-scoring cup matches, but no 12-0 result appears in verified historical records against Manchester United or other major opponents.

What are Arsenal vs Man United stats?

As of January 2026: 246 competitive meetings, Manchester United 103 wins, Arsenal 91 wins, 51 draws. Top scorer: Wayne Rooney (12). Most appearances: Ryan Giggs (50). Biggest scoreline: United 8-2 Arsenal (2011/12). Arsenal have won 5 of the last 7 Premier League meetings.

Arsenal vs Man United live stream options?

Live stream options vary by region. In the UK, NOW TV, Sky Go, and Amazon Prime Video may carry select matches. Internationally, check NBC Sports (USA), DAZN (Canada/Germany), Optus Sport (Australia), or your local Premier League rights holder for streaming availability.