Highbury 2005 was an all-time football classic

Several United players refused to shake Vieira’s hand when the teams met for the ersatz ‘show of respect’ after the teams had lined up.

And when the game began, it did so as ferociously as you might expect. And then it simply kept going at a breakneck pace for the entire 90 minutes.

Goals always help games, and there were plenty here, but the beauty of it went beyond that. The sharp passing, the committed tackles, the arguments, the disputes… they all made stark the sheer desperation both teams felt as they strained for superiority.

It was football of the highest standard in terms of technical ability, yes, but it was ultimately so enjoyable because this game mattered in a profound way to whatever 22 players were present on the pitch throughout the match.