The Emirates Curse: This One Stat Explains Why Arsenal Is a Nightmare for Man United
Arsenal fans of course all know to our cost how the Emirates Stadium has become a formidable fortress in recent years, particularly for those dreaded encounters with Manchester United.
What was once a happy hunting ground for the Red Devils has turned into a daunting place of dread.
One telling stat sums it up neatly: Manchester United have won just two Premier League games at the Emirates since Sir Alex Ferguson rode off into the sunset in 2013
United’s woeful Away Record at the Emirates
The numbers tell a story all of their own. In the 12 Premier League matches United have played at the Emirates since Ferguson gave it a swan song, they’ve only managed to scrape together two wins , one draw and a string of nine defeats.
Its a fixture where Arsenal have well and truly turned the tables, turning what once was a tricky but winnable tie into a regular thorn in the side for our north west rivals
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Here are all the Premier League results at the Emirates since 2013:
- December 2024: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
- September 2023: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United
- January 2023: Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United
- April 2022: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United
- January 2021: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United
- January 2020: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
- March 2019: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
- December 2017: Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United
- May 2017: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
- October 2015: Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United
- November 2014: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United
- November 2013: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United
It’s been coming up on three years now since United last managed a league win at the Emirates – in December 2017 under Jose Mourinho when they thumped us 3-1 in a game that now feels like ancient history.
United’s Last Premier League Win at the Emirates – the 2017 Thriller
That Mourinho-era win remains the last time United got their noses in front in the league at the Emirates. Antonio Valencia got them off the mark early on , Jesse Lingard then doubled the lead with a beauty , and despite Alexandre Lacazette pulling one back for Arsenal there was enough in it for United to hold on for the 3-1 win – even after Paul Pogba was red carded.
It was a game that will still be talked about for a long time for David de Geas heroics in the second half , keeping Arsenal at bay in some frantic moments.
Lingard even celebrated that one with one of his now famous little dances. The United starting XI that day was – De Gea, Lindelof, Rojo, Smalling, Valencia, Young, Matic, Pogba, Martial, and Lukaku – but only a handful of those lads are still hanging around the club today.
Why the Emirates Has Become United’s Kryptonite
In 7 out of these last 12 games, United’s been unable to even get on the score sheet – including that 2-0 hammering at the Emirates just the other week.
The Gunners’ high-pressing style under Mikel Arteta has made the Emirates Stadium basically impossible to get a result from – and for United, who’ve been struggling to deal with this kind of pressure, its a whole lot worse.
While United have managed to nick an FA Cup win here (and of course in 2025 on penalties, and they ran out 3-1 winners in 2019) , the Premier League record is quite clear: Arsenal own this fixture at home, no question.
What to Expect Next Time Around: No Fear but a Lot of Respect
As we head into the next match, you can bet the Arsenal faithful are feeling pretty confident about this rivalry – this record (or rather ‘curse’) for United shows no signs of lifting & with the team playing so well, a strong performance against United seems like a very good bet.
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The Emirates Curse: This One Stat Explains Why Arsenal Is a Nightmare for Man United