Manchester United and Arsenal, two of the Premier League's most successful sides, have had their fair share of bruising encounters over the years.

It is a rivalry that went unmatched by any other in English football for a decade or more, providing viewers from across the globe with memorable clashes, shock results and a whole load of controversy.

While recent meetings have gone under the radar somewhat due to the emergence of Chelsea and Manchester City as the league's heavyweights, Monday night's FA Cup quarter-final tie provides one of the most highly-anticipated contests between the pair in recent memory.

With that in mind, Sports Mole takes a look back at five key fixtures since the turn of the century which have helped to truly define this rivalry as one of the all-time greats in world football.

1. Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal (May 8, 2002)

In the Premier League's first 12 years, only Blackburn Rovers could successfully break apart the United-Arsenal duopoly. It ensured that the two league fixtures between the sides each year acted essentially as season-defining matches. In November 2001, a Fabian Barthez howler gifted the Gunners a 3-1 victory at Highbury, and while it was still early days in the campaign Arsene Wenger's men did not look back as they lifted their 12th league crown.

They went on to seal the title in their great rivals' own back yard when Sylvain Wiltord, now firmly in Gunners' folklore for this strike alone, placed the ball through Barthez's legs to end United's hopes of making up the deficit on their opponents at the summit of the table.

It meant that this truly was a campaign to forget for Sir Alex Ferguson's trophiless men, while Arsenal players and supporters alike partied long into the night following one of the finest hours in the club's trophy-laden history.

2. Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal (September 21, 2002)

Just four months on from Arsenal's title success at Old Trafford, the sides came face to face once more in another classic encounter. It may have ended goalless in a cagey affair, but what unfolded late on lives long in the memory.

Arsenal, in the early stages of their 49-game unbeaten run, were down to 10 players for the final 10 minutes after Patrick Vieira was shown a second yellow card. It is for the incident which took place in the dying stages that this game is best remembered, though, as Ruud van Nistelrooy was gifted the perfect chance to win the game for his side at the death after referee Steve Bennett had pointed to the spot.

The Dutchman thumped the ball against the bar, which led to feisty scenes inside the Theatre of Dreams. Martin Keown, unhappy with the part Van Nistelrooy had played in getting his teammate sent off, goaded his opponent amid a mass brawl on the pitch. The game went on to finish goalless and Arsenal sealed their place in Premier League history with that yet-to-be-matched unbeaten run.

3. Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United (May 12, 2005)

Considering some of the high-scoring affairs which failed to make the cut for this list, it may seem somewhat surprising that another stalemate of sorts makes an appearance. But this was not exactly a drab affair when looking back 10 years on, as the North London outfit, completely against the flow of the game, went on to lift the FA Cup with a 5-4 victory on penalties.

It left Fergie without a trophy yet again as Chelsea became just the fourth side to lift the Prem title, while Wenger's legendary status continued to grow by the season. Of course, it would be another nine years before Arsenal would go on to win their next piece of silverware, that coming against Hull City at Wembley last May.

As for the man who tucked away the winning spot kick, Juventus-bound Vieira, he is now among the Man City coaching staff - the side who have ultimately proved a thorn in the Gunners' side since the peak of their powers back in the middle of the last decade, best epitomised by this backs-to-the-wall triumph.

4. Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal (August 28, 2011)

Sometimes goalless draws, as witnessed above, can provide far more entertainment that a high-scoring affair. And while this may not be a classic in the true sense of the word, nothing quite highlighted the gulf between the two sides than this heavy United victory.

Having lost Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively, there was an air of animosity in the away section at Old Trafford. A somewhat depleted Arsenal side, also hit by injuries and suspensions, completely capitulated despite being just 3-1 down at the break thanks to Theo Walcott's strike on the brink of half time.

Five goals followed in the second 45 minutes, including two more for Wayne Rooney - a key player in this fixture over the years - to round off his hat-trick. It truly was a day, and season, to forget for Wenger who had to ride a wave of supporter criticism in the wake of the humiliation - something he has become accustomed to in the following years.

5. Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United (May 5, 2009)

Not as embarrassing in terms of the scoreline, but this defeat would have hurt more than any other as far as Arsenal fans are concerned. Home supporters seemed well up for the game, too, despite finding themselves 1-0 down in this Champions League semi-final second leg following the Red Devils' victory in the reverse tie.

Just eight minutes into the game any hope was sucked out of those long-suffering fans, however, as Park Ji-sung capitalised on a Kieran Gibbs slip to give his side a crucial away goal. The Gunners now needed to score three times, but it was very much game over when Cristiano Ronaldo - in his United pomp - doubled the visitors' lead on the night with 10 minutes on the clock.

The game went on to finish 4-0 on aggregate as Ferguson's side booked a place in the 2009 European Cup final in Rome, although if there is any consolation for supporters of the London club to take away from this episode, it is the fact that their rivals were soundly beaten by Barcelona in the final.