GNev: Best Game I've Played In Was 1999 vs Arsenal

Ahead of Manchester United’s massive match against Arsenal tomorrow, Gary Neville has claimed the best game he ever played in was our 2-1 victory over the Gunners in the FA Cup semi-final replay in 1999.

“The 1999 FA Cup semi final against Arsenal was probably the best game I have ever played in,” he said. “It had everything: pitch invasions, sendings-off, a last-minute penalty and one of the greatest goals ever seen. To top it all, it was the last-ever FA Cup semi-final replay and it was almost as if a tradition was dying. And it was held at Villa Park, which had been such a special ground for us in the FA Cup over the years. We played lots of semi-finals there, our fans were great and we were always difficult to beat. Unfortunately, we now have to go to Wembley to play semi-finals.”

Neville reckons the goal was one of the defining moments in Giggsy’s career but reckons he should have thought twice about the celebration.

“It was an incredible goal, anyway, but even more so in that he did it when we were down to 10 men and had our backs against the wall, just holding firm against wave after wave of attacks,” he continued. “It will be one of the defining moments in his career, although the one disappointment was the lasting image of his celebration – removing his shirt to reveal his hairy chest!”