Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has recalled the day when Arsenal came to Old Trafford and he bagged a quickfire hat-trick in a 6-1 demolition of the Gunners.
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon in February 2001 and Arsene Wenger's men were United’s closest league rivals. But Yorke put the Reds ahead in only the third minute after a neat one-two with Paul Scholes and that opened the floodgates.
The Tobagan's second goal came in the 18th minute after he was put through by Roy Keane and, four minutes later, he guided home a David Beckham cross to complete his hat-trick. Further strikes by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Roy Keane and Teddy Sheringham capped a brilliant United performance.
Yorke told ManUtd.com: "My hat-trick is the one everyone talks about whenever United play Arsenal. To score three goals in less than 22 minutes was amazing.
"I got out of bed on the right side that morning – everything went to plan, my food was good and everything fell into place. I just had one of those magical moments on the football pitch. I’d put in some hard graft behind the scenes and it’s when you do that that you get the reward.
"I was delighted to score, but it was the fact that we hit six against them that day, and the manner in which we did it – demolishing them here at Old Trafford."
United went on to wrap up the 2000/01 title in April, finishing 10 points ahead of the Gunners. Yorke notched 11 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions that term, but the three he bagged against Arsenal will forever live in his memory.
Asked whether he ended up disappointed not to have scored more in the game, after netting such a quick hat-trick, Yorke replied: "Well, the manager took me off after 75 minutes, so I didn’t get the full game to add to my tally! I’ve often wondered why Sir Alex did that but he was the best in the business and you never questioned his decisions.
"I didn’t expect to do it against Arsenal but it was a good feeling and it’s a game every United fan looks back on and thinks 'wow, that was an amazing day'."
Yorke admits the 6-1 thrashing of Arsenal was one of the high points of his four-year spell with United, in which he bagged 64 goals in 120 appearances – including one other hat-trick, against Derby County – before moving on to Blackburn Rovers.
"It’s right up there," he said. "Obviously, winning the Treble was the highlight but from an individual point of view, being a striker, if you score three goals in any game it’s always nice. But to do it against a top team like Arsenal, not many people can say they have ticked that box, and I’m one of them."