Man Utd vs Arsenal 2004: Video of the awful refereeing calls that cost unbeaten run

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·24 October 2022

Man Utd vs Arsenal 2004: Video of the awful refereeing calls that cost unbeaten run

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In the nine seasons between 1995/96 and 2003/04, the duo were the only clubs to lift the English top-flight title.

As a result, they were often locked in heated two-horse races for the championship that frequently boiled over and sparked an enormous rivalry.

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It's thanks to that famous rivalry that we were treated to so many iconic moments which we fondly look back on nowadays with a sense of nostalgia.

Oh yes, we're talking about the famous tunnel incident between Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira.

But one other all-time famous moment came in 2004, when Man Utd ended Arsenal's 49 game unbeaten run in the league.

Of course, the Gunners were the reigning champions after pulling off a miraculous invincible season the year prior and had begun the 2004/05 season in a similar fashion, sweeping all before them as they bid to retain their crown.

However, the Red Devils, led by the famous Sir Alex Ferguson, put an end to that run in October when they welcomed Arsene Wenger's men to Old Trafford.

Although that doesn't quite tell the whole story...

VIDEO: The bad refereeing decisions in Man Utd vs Arsenal 2004

The officiating on the day was, let's be honest here, spectacularly poor.

As demonstrated in this video, which depicts all of the horrid decisions made on the day.

It really is astonishing stuff.

Arsene Wenger: "We lost our status as Invincibles against Man Utd in a game where referees shared some of the responsibility. It wasn’t deserved. When I die, I’m going to ask God where the referees are before I choose between Heaven & Hell."
– Monday, 16 March 2020

The tensions even boiled over after the game when an Arsenal player launched a pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson in protest of the result.

Nobody knew who the culprit was at the time, although Cesc Fabregas later admitted to being the man in question whilst appearing on a League Of Their Own.

“I apologise Sir Alex, really didn’t mean to do that!” came the apology from Fabregas after he admitted to the atrocity years later.

But whilst the refereeing rightfully infuriated Arsenal players and fans alike, leading to the infamous "pizza gate" incident, as ever in football, the result can't be changed.

Arsenal's undefeated run fell through and what are we left with? Well, another iconic Premier League moment courtesy of two of the country's most reputable clubs.