I started to take the p*** for Manchester United vs Arsenal - so Sir Alex Ferguson took me off

It's fair to say plenty has changed between Manchester United and Arsenal in the past 12-and-a-half years.

Right now, the Gunners are pushing for the title and United are languishing in eighth. Ahead of their meeting at Old Trafford this weekend, Mikel Arteta's side are flying and Erik ten Hag is under severe pressure.

Rewind to the start of the 2011/12 season, however, and the picture could hardly have been more different.

Arsenal were in crisis, in the midst of a player firesale and an injury and suspension crisis that left their squad winless from their opening two games and dreading a trip to Manchester early in the season. United, perennial title challengers under Sir Alex Ferguson, were ready to flex their muscles against their favourite opponents.

United had gone unbeaten in seven previous home matches against Arsenal, winning eight out of the 11 past meetings home and away with Arsene Wenger's side.

So although the 8-2 scoreline on August 28th 2011 has gone down in Premier League folklore as one of the more shocking results in the division's history, it was not that much of a surprise at the time.

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The Arsenal players knew they were beaten even before a ball was kicked, as Jack Wilshere later told The Athletic.

Wilshere was injured for that game, one of a number of key absentees for the Gunners, and revealed his horror as he watched the action unfold on TV. He had little to no confidence in an Arsenal team featuring rookies Carl Jenkinson and Armand Traore at full-back, with the untested Johan Djourou and Francis