Spirit of 02 ... raiders of Old Trafford

IN classic Martin Tyler style as Sylvain Wiltord stole in with a goal to clinch Arsenal’s title at Old Trafford, the Sky Sports commentator roared ‘Wiltooooooord!’

He would repeat that roar years later with ‘Aguerooooooo!’ when Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp goal delivered Manchester City’s title.

Unlike at the Etihad there was no 11th-hour drama for the Gunners because they secured the 2001-02 championship against Manchester United with a game to spare.

A momentous occasion, ingrained in the memory of Ray Parlour, who was named man of the match

He revealed: “It was probably the best week of my life in football. Scoring in the Cup Final [against Chelsea] and then winning at Old Trafford.

“You can imagine Sir Alex Ferguson saying to his players ‘don’t let them win the league here’. We were United’s biggest rivals. There was a determination to stop us winning it at their place. Win it but not here.

“We just took our chance when it came and were just able to hold on.”

A banner unfurled amongst the travelling Arsenal fans said it all. ‘Old Trafford, Champions Section’.

It came after Wiltord (above) followed up a Freddie Ljungberg shot pushed out by Fabian Barthez for the only goal of the game to clinch a League and FA Cup double.

Fast forward 22 years, and for Mikel Arteta’s side nothing less than a repeat of that victory will suffice in the battle with Manchester City.

Martin Keown, United’s kryptonite that day, added: “When Arsenal were winning the titles in 1998, 2002 and 2004 the players were the best I have ever worked with.

“If I could show today’s players one game it would be that victory over United. The game was won by grafting, by scrapping.”