With Van Persie stealing most of the headlines, ahead of the clash between rivals Arsenal and Man United, the Dutchman is expected to be the centre of attraction as he faces the Emirates crowd for the first time since his summer move.
His reception at the Emirates is expected to be harsh, but older followers of the game are well aware of the fact that this clash is a lot more than the Dutchman.

The rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United is one of the most fierce rivalries in English football, and although it has somewhat softened over the past few years, the truth remains that whenever the two sides clash, the stadium begins to buzz with an air of passion and energy. This is because of the vibrant history that the clash owns in past couple of decades.

The arrival of Arsene Wenger to Arsenal and the ascent of the London club to the summit of English football during the early 21st century at the expense of United meant that a lot of bitterness arose from the red half of Manchester. Sir Alex Ferguson’s initial disapproval of Wenger’s class can be judged from the Scott’s comments about the Frenchman when the latter first arrived at Arsenal, comparing him to a 15 year-old Ivorian boy he knew who could also speak five languages.

"They say he's an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages. I've got a 15-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages," said the United boss

When in 1997, Wenger complained about the fixtures being in United’s favour, Sir Alex was quoted to have called Wenger a “novice”. The bitterness between the two managers became further evident when the two of them declined a handshake at the end of a fierce FA Cup match in 1999.

Arsenal’s dominant period in the Premier League saw several ugly clashes between the players on and off the field. One of the most famous and cherished of these clashes was between the finest midfielders in England of that time. Both Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane defined their respective clubs, and whereas they had great respect for one another, they shared a great amount of animosity too.

The highlight of their rivalry was a heated confrontation in the Highbury tunnel. The passion, the aggression and the inspiration the two men delivered led their respective sides to countless titles and also accounted for a highly enjoyable encounter between two of the biggest clubs in England.

One of the unforgettable ties between the two sides came during the beginning of the 2003-2004 campaign. With Arsenal Captain Patrick Vieira already given his marching orders for a kick on Van Nistelrooy, Arsenal were met with further grief when Martin Keown brought down United striker Diego Forlan in stoppage time of the second half.

The opportunity to win the match for Man United came down to Ruud van Nistelrooy who famously slammed the spot kick onto the cross-bar, sending the Arsenal fans in frenzy. The players also got out of control and eventually four players from each side got a booking.
Other memorable games include Manchester United’s win over Arsenal that ended the Gunners’ unbeaten streak, and Arsenal’s 2005 FA Cup final victory, in which the Londoners defeated the Manchester club 5-4 on penalties.

Recently, the tide has been tilted more in United’s favour, with the Red Devils rewarding Wenger’s men an embarrassing 8-2 loss in August 2011. Another distressing loss was handed by United in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League not too long ago.

Although United fans would have thoroughly enjoyed celebrating their Premier League victory at the Emirates on Sunday, the clash is still expected to be a fierce affair, with Robin van Persie’s presence being the centre of most debates. Arsenal, though, should more importantly be focusing on a Champions League spot at the end of the season, and a win against the current champions will be a massive boost for the cause.