Throughout his long Manchester United career, right-back Gary Neville faced a host of big-name wingers, including the likes of Luis Figo, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Robert Pires.

However, when recently asked by talkSPORT which wideman had caused him the most problems, he responded: "Marc Overmars was a tough opponent. It was tough though because Emmanuel Petit kept dropping balls over my head.

"I would say Overmars [was the toughest] because those tussles between Arsenal and Man United in the last 1990s, they were the best domestic team I ever played against."

Neville more than likely formed that viewpoint during Arsenal's visit to Old Trafford 17 years ago today.

It was a vital encounter for both sides, with the hosting Red Devils nine points clear of the Gunners, who had three games in hand, at the top of the table.

The North Londoners had not won on any of their previous six trips to United, but from the first whistle it was clear that they were determined to end that sequence of results.

The likes of Overmars, Dennis Bergkamp and Christopher Wreh caused numerous problems throughout, while up the other end, United's strike duo of Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham found it difficult to make any inroads up against Tony Adams and Martin Keown.

It was not until the 79th minute, though, that Overmars made a crucial impact. Substitute Nicolas Anelka flicked the ball into the path of the Dutchman, who sped away from Neville before slotting his shot underneath goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and into the far corner of the net.

The goal was the first that Arsenal had scored in the Premier League at Old Trafford and despite some late pressure from the home side, which included Schmeichel coming up for a corner and pulling his hamstring on the run back towards his goal, Arsene Wenger's men held on to claim all three points.

Speaking after the final whistle, Wenger said: "I think United have still got a small advantage, because we have to take the points from the games in hand. But we have closed the gap, and it makes it very interesting for everybody until the end."

Match-winner Overmars added: "We have a few difficult away matches, against Blackburn and Liverpool, but we are going well now. This was a great result for us. You don't win the Premier League against Manchester United - you have to beat the other clubs."

As for beaten boss Sir Alex Ferguson, he offered up: "If they win their games in hand they will go ahead of us, but they will find out they start dropping points towards the end of the season, there's no question about that.

"They played well today but I don't think they are as good a football team as us, though they looked strong and determined."

MAN UNITED: Schmeichel; G Neville, Berg, Curtis (Thornley), Irwin; Johnsen (May), P Neville (Solskjaer), Scholes, Beckham; Sheringham, Cole

ARSENAL: Manninger; Dixon, Adams, Keown, Winterburn; Parlour (Garde), Petit, Vieira, Overmars; Bergkamp, Wreh (Anelka)