Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have staked their claim, but two clubs have defined the last 20 years more than the rest
Best of enemies: United and Arsenal have been fierce rivals over the last 15 years
Shaun Botterill
Manchester United host Arsenal in the weekend's most eagerly-awaited Premier League game on Sunday.
With the Gunners flying along at the head of the table and United currently some way off the pace, this is a crucial match even so early in the season.
These two clubs, of course, have developed quite the rivalry in the Premier League era, with Arsene Wenger's side providing stiff competition for the Red Devils over the last two decades.
United and Arsenal have won 16 Premier League titles between them, making them the two most successful sides in the country in recent times.
Ahead of Sunday's showdown, Liam Ferry of the excellent On Goals Scored has mapped out the rivalry since 1992, detailing which of the sides has performed better in meetings between the two, which side finished higher in the league, and which (if either) took the title.
Arsenal are one of the Premier League's most successful teams.
The Gunners share an intense rivalry with North London rivals
Tottenham. Transformed by Arsene Wenger, their 'Untouchables'
went an entire season unbeaten in 2003-04 but they haven't
won a trophy for eight years - and counting.
Its the time for Arsenal F.C to be the next champion as they steering to a right direction with strong team and committed to be the next cup winner. With the new young players joining in , it will make Arsenal F.C more stronger to continue their campaign till end of this session
Arsenal transfer news and rumours: Gunners eyeing Mario Balotelli or Jackson Martinez as striker search hots up
Why always me: Balotelli could be on his way back to the Premier League
Getty
Fresh from a big win over bitter rivals Tottenham things really couldn't be better for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal.
That said, there still remains some question marks up top, and with the Frenchmanconfirming Nicklas Bendtner will be out for a month, the hunt for striker looks set to step up in the coming days.
Sunday's Arsenal transfer stories from the Sunday Mirror and The People
Wenger has long been linked with finding an experienced head to compliment Wojciech Szczesny between the sticks.
Moves for the likes of Spanish international Iker Casillas have been mooted, but it seems the Gunners boss has his eye on someone a little younger to compete with his Polish number one.
The 27-year-old describes himself as a boyhood Gunners fan and would love to one day find himself plying his trade in the famous red jersey.
With 12 goals in 14 games this term the Colombian would certainly ease the burden on Olivier Giroud's over-worked shoulders.
It must be said that at £30million plus any move is a long shot, but after the late Mesut Ozil swoop in the summer anything is possible on Wenger's watch.
And speaking of Wenger, the manager himself could be in line for a new deal this month.
According to Alan Nixon the Frenchman will sign up for another two years before moving upstairs to be the club's transfer troubleshooter and talent spotter.
Sources close to Wenger suggest he had been thinking of hanging up the puffer jacket this season, but the Gunners' resurgence has changed his mind.
Sunday's Arsenal transfer gossip and rumours from other newspapers and websites
Mario Balotelli could be in line for a return to the Premier League return, with Arsenal linked with an unlikely swoop.
The bad boy Italian hit the headlines in a bad-tempered spell with Manchester City before moving back to his homeland with AC Milan.
And the Mail on Sunday report that the 23-year-old is growing unsettled with the underperforming Rossoneri and is eyeing a move back to English football.
The paper reports that Arsenal are monitoring the situation closely while the Daily Starsuggests Chelsea and former boss Jose Mourinho are in pole position to snap him up.
The Gunners could well do battle with the Blues for another of their transfer targets.
Highly-rated central defender Kurt Zouma is on the recruitment radars of many European heavyweights with the Stamford Bridge club the first to now firm up their interest.
Rising star: the Gunners will have to battle with Chelsea to snap the young defender
Getty
Reports in the Metro suggest Chelsea have started negotiations with the 19-year-old's club St Etienne over a potential move.
Both Arsenal and Manchester United could still be in the hunt, but Mourinho and Co. seem to have stolen a march on them for now.
Arsenal starlet Serge Gnabry can be the secret weapon for title-chasing Gunners
The 18-year-old German impressed in Arsenal's FA Cup win over Spurs and can go on to be a key player for the Gunners, according to team-mate Mikel Arteta
Serge-ing forward: The young Gunner shone in the north London derby
Clive Rose
Serge Gnabry can be a knockout for title-chasing Arsenal.
The teenager has been a bit-part player this season but announced himself as a contenderafter flooring Tottenham.
It led to Gunners midfielder Mikel Arteta comparing the stocky winger to a boxer, even if the 18-year-old looks more welterweight than heavyweight.
Arteta said: “I think has a lot of quality. He has something not many players have in this team which is pace, skill to go and beat people.
“That’s why the manager played him, three up front is something that helps us be more incisive.
“We want to go behind and get into one-versus-one situations. Gnabry is very good like that and I’m very pleased for him because I think he did really well.
“He’s like a little boxer, he’s a little fighter. He’s good. He’s got a lot of character as well, the lad doesn’t get intimidated either because it’s a derby.
“Technically, he is very good but he has something about him as well. He doesn’t mind when he gets kicked, he gets up and goes for the next ball.”
Gnabry was outstanding as Arsenal once again reasserted their superiority in North London . Tottenham’s progress has stalled, Arsenal have pulled away again and this cup tie highlighted the difference in the clubs.
Wenger is into his 18th year at Arsenal. Spurs boss Tim Sherwood has been given an 18 month contract. That says it all. Not surprisingly, Wenger won the tactical battle and Gnabry helped give the young contender a bloody nose.
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Clive Rose
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Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
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Sherwood’s 4-4-2 tactics were outdated. He had as many as nine players through missing injury but still had the bodies to go 4-5-1 and improve when Nacer Chadli came on for the hapless Roberto Soldado. Arsenal ran the show and no one was better than Tomas Rosicky, who was everywhere with Gnabry, Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott among the starring members of the supporting cast.
Cazorla opened the scoring after a great run and pass by Gnabry while Rosicky scored his after dispossessing Danny Rose on the halfway line, sprinting clear and then lobbing keeper Hugo Lloris.
Midfielder Jack Wilshere believes Arsenal are well placed to make a push for silverware after this win against their bitter rivals. They will play League One Coventry at the Emirates in the fourth round.
Wilshere said: “As an Arsenal fan myself, I really enjoy these wins. I’ve got Spurs in my family and a bit of West Ham, so pride is at stake in a derby and we did well.
“We know these games are massive for the fans and we always seem to come out on top at the Emirates.
“We’ve a spell now where it’s only one game a week and we’re not used to that this season, when we’ve been playing every three days. It’s going to help us.
“We’ve quite a good squad now we’ve been able to rotate in midfield and that’s helping us.
“We know what we can do. We’ve got great character in this squad and great team spirit.
“That’s helping us and we’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves and not listen to anyone else.
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