9. Arsene Who?

In the summer of 1996, Alex Ferguson was in desperate need of a worthy adversary. Nobody realised the answer would come from Japan.

Mind the wind, Tugga

The 28th man goes too far

The whiff of danger

England went to the Caribbean in 1986 fancying their chances of an historic victory. A terrifying festival of chin music in Jamaica disabused them of the notion

Quiz: Ballon d'or 1998

Name the nominees, bathe in pride

6: Anyone But United

In 1993-94, Manchester United stole Arsenal’s title as the most hated team in England

Hot hot heat

A year before he laid waste to South Africa at the Oval, Devon Malcolm bowled an even faster spell to beat Australia

To the death

At Italia 90, Diego Maradona picked a fight with the entire world – and came this close to winning it

3. Hit the North Bank

The Arsenal-Man Utd rivalry intensified during a ferocious FA Cup tie in 1988

2. Wild nutter

Arsenal’s young team were top of the league and full of the joys when they arrived at Old Trafford in 1987. One man soon changed that

1. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

The Premier League’s greatest rivalry can be traced back to four barnstorming, spiteful games in 1983

The fast show

Before his injuries, the original Ronaldo was the most exciting young player we've ever seen

Senegal this, Senegal that

For almost a decade, Arsenal v Manchester United was a title decider. By February 2005 there was no bigger picture, just hatred

Serie A

The fairytale of Serie A

Sampdoria's only Scudetto, inspired by Gianluca Vialli, was an underdog story full of humanity, charm, style and most of all fun

Cricket

Let me be your fantasy

In five seasons as Kent’s overseas player, Carl Hooper produced high art in industrial quantities. Shame he couldn't do it more often

The Ashes

There goes the fear

The genesis of England’s glorious 2005 Ashes victory was a 47-minute cameo three years earlier

Liverpool

The power of balance

John Barnes' imperious solo goal against the leaders QPR in 1987 showcased one of football's greatest qualities

Italia 90

How did Gascoigne play?

The night English football’s heart was broken into a thousand tiny pieces

Shane Warne

93 'til infinity

Shane Warne started his first Ashes tour as a relative unknown. By the end, England’s batsmen knew quite enough about him

1999 World Cup

A vile technicality

The 1999 World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa was a white-ball Test match with a twist that even Hitchcock would have deemed too cruel

1999-2000

The end of an aura

Real Madrid's stunning victory at Old Trafford in 2000 changed the face of European football

Euro 72

Ramba-Zamba will never die, but you will

Gunter Netzer x Frank Beckenbauer x Gerd Muller = Germany's greatest team

1998-99

Football, bloody hell

Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich, 26 May 1999

2001-02

Let's push things forward

In December 2001, ten-man Arsenal ignored xenophobia, injustice and Europe’s deadliest snake to win at Anfield. It was the symbolic start of the Invincible era

1999-2000

Primal screamer

The last great goal at the old Wembley was a Batigolazo that shattered Arsenal