Players got in a flare up and a group of fans throw punches as Man Utd seal a 2-0 pre-season win against Arsenal overnight.
It always turns feisty when these two clubs play each other, and no matter where it seems as the Gunners fell to defeat at the MetLife Stadium as part of their preseason tour in the US after smashing five past the MLS All-Stars earlier this week.
Tension went from the pitch to the stands during their friendly on Saturday night with footage emerging on social media of the altercation.
Fans were seen throwing fists in the stands, leading to a bigger fight, as shoving each other escalated to punches.
Arsenal Fans were so upset at getting beat twice in one day they literally started fighting each other 😠#MUFC || #MUTOUR23 || #MUNARS pic.twitter.com/vZB7xCqqGC
— UtdSteez 🇲🇹 (@MUFC_STEEZ) July 23, 2023
— MP24MP42 (@MP24MP42) July 23, 2023
Maybe Twitter can help find the absolute coward in the blue polo who ONLY sucker punched every time he got involved and then RAN away like a bitch when the cops came. He started everything and then ran away. Absolutely bitch made. #Arsenal #ManchesterUnited #ARSMAN #fight pic.twitter.com/rn1wJDikKf
— Joseph (@joegaenzle) July 23, 2023
@RiddyMuppetiers says: “Prior to this video, in the same fight, someone got knocked out, hard. Not worth fighting in these stadiums man, you get rocked and your head is falling hard on some concrete steps or the back of a chair. Also most likely banned from MetLife. Too much to drink with too big egos.”
A number of security staff made their way over the pitchside railings and began to make their way up to try and break up the fight, but by the time they reached them, it has already got out of hand.
A fan in a blue shirt could be seen throwing the first punch, before going back to his seat.
On the pitch, a late challenge from Lisandro Martinez on Bukayo Saka caused a flare up with a mini scuffle seeing the Argentinian having to be separated from Martin Odegaard.
Footage shows Martinez with a lunge tackle on Saka as the game approached half time.
United were already leading 2-0 by this point, but Martinez still went in badly on Saka, and at the same time nearly wiped out teammate Kobbie Mainoo too.
The ref blew for a free kick, handing an unfazed Martinez a yellow for the challenge.
Lisandro Martinez making a stupid challenge like this against Saka in a friendly… pic.twitter.com/QfOhjD9d5J
— TheAFCTalk (@TheAFCTalk) July 22, 2023
Arsenal: Ramsdale; Timber (White 58), Saliba (Jorginho 72), Gabriel, Tomiyasu (Tierney 46); Odegaard, Rice (Partey 58), Havertz (Vieira 72); Saka (Trossard 72), Nketiah (Smith-Rowe 72), Martinelli (Jesus 58).
Subs not used: Runarsson, Kiwior, Holding, Balogun, Marquinhos, Hein, Trusty, Cozier-Duberry.
United: Heaton; Wan-Bissaka (Dalot HT), Varane (Lindelof HT), Martinez (Maguire HT), Shaw (Williams HT); Mainoo (Casemiro HT), Mount (Eriksen HT); Antony (Amad HT, Pellistri 59), Fernandes (McTominay HT) Garnacho (Rashford HT); Sancho (Forson HT).
Subs not used: Bishop, Vitek, Fernandez, Gore, Hannibal, Van de Beek.
Scorers: Fernandes 30, Sancho 37.
Attendance: 82,262
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag: “I think it’s very good. The way we played, I was really pleased, how active we were in and out of possession. That is the way we want to play and that is the only period of the year you can really work in training and translate it to games without it having consequences.
“But still, we want to win, and I think the lads showed we played a good game.
“Of course, they are all great games [in this series]. We have to go and it helps us to progress and especially those opponents, they are good. Arsenal is a really good opponent. They played incredibly good last season in the Premier League, so yeah, that’s good to match with them, then you will be better.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: “Yes (this is a good lesson for us). You asked me yesterday about my thoughts on how difficult or easy the season is going to be.
“It’s going to be more challenging, more difficult, the level and preparation of the team is excellent and we knew today, they had already played two games before this one and we knew the test was going to be really demanding, like it’s going to be on Wednesday against [Barcelona] one of the best teams in the world.
“I don’t like losing and I don’t like the feeling that I have right now. So, the boys have to train right now, in that space thinking how we are going to be better to win the next match.”
SEE MORE: Sky Sports reporter causes a stir over her opinion on Jordan Henderson’s Saudi switch
Twitter users reacted with players in a flare up and fans throw punches as Man Utd seal a pre-season win against Arsenal…
@Conor__S22: Good job no one whipped out a gun
@TheNortherner__: 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pre season friendly ffs, what a bunch of arseholes! 🤣🤣🤣
@Utd_Sanch25: What a shambles of a fanbase ðŸ˜
@declan_higham: It’s starting already 🤣🤣ðŸ˜
@Ssg0390: It’s a friendly lads
@WelshClayt: Only a friendly lads kinhell
@TomBTJ: Embarrassing, good fan base tarnished by some idiots..
@DanJ_official: 😂😂😂 imagine fighting over a preseason game
@timynwa93: Good old punch ups
@Utd_4_eva: No way did the fans put up more fight than arsenals first team 😂😂😂
@SergeTheSerb: More passion in the stands than on the pitch tbf
I got this lol https://t.co/ZzheqMbST2 pic.twitter.com/CcPOe1gZ9p
— Riddy Muppetiers (@RiddyMuppetiers) July 22, 2023
You must be logged in to post a comment Login