Arsenal and United clashes no longer title deciders: Solskjaer
Arsenal and United clashes no longer title deciders: Solskjaer
LONDON (AFP) - The days when the two league matches between Arsenal and Manchester United decided where the title was destined are over, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Friday.
The former United striker featured in many of those matches when managerial legends Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were in charge and passions often boiled over both on and off the pitch.
Such fireworks are unlikely on Sunday at least off the pitch as 15th-placed United host Arsenal, who are two points better off having played a game more.
Solskjaer -- who will be taking charge of United for the 100th time -- and his Gunners counterpart Mikel Arteta are very different personalities to Ferguson and Wenger.
"When I played it was between us both to win the league, so that was a fierce rivalry," said Solskjaer.
"There were all sorts of old stories -- the passion, the excitement and the importance of those games.
"We knew if we took six points off them we’d more or less win the league, or vice versa.
"There’s still the rivalry, the history, but now we don’t think about them as our rivals or anyone as our rivals.
"We just need to put points on the board.
"let’s hope I can celebrate number 100 with a good performance and a result. I’ve enjoyed it so far."
