Unofficial Champions of England: Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United, 03/10/1999

Jody Morris scores Chelsea's fifth goal

Manchester United are the treble winners and Unofficial Champions. They haven't lost a league game in ten months. They look unstoppable.
All except one thing and his name is Massimo Taibi. To be fair, it was a big ask for any keeper to fill the gloves of United's legendary keeper Peter Schmeichel. Taibi's time in Manchester was short but the stuff of legends.

Chelsea took the lead after just 27 seconds. Dan Petrescu played the ball forward for Gus Poyet to head past a stranded Taibi.
Chris Sutton, who didn't score many in his time at Stamford Bridge, made it 2-0 with a looping header from Albert Ferrer's cross.
It got worse for United when Nicky Butt was red carded for lashing out at Chelsea skipper Dennis Wise.

United survived conceding anymore until the second half when Gus Poyet got his second goal, scoring on the rebound after Taibi had saved Frank Leboeuf's low effort.
The fourth goal, despite Sutton's best efforts to claim it for himself, was an own goal from Henning Berg, sliding in to turn in Gianfranco Zola's low cross.
The final goal came from Jody Morris, completing Taibi's miserable day by shooting between his legs.

The Treble winners were well and truly humbled.

Unofficial Champions of England: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United, 22/08/1999

Roy Keane equalises for Manchester United

The final part of the Arsenal-Manchester United trilogy, the 'Return of the King' if you will.
Much like the Gunners and United were sharing all the trophies between themselves in this period, now they were sharing the Unofficial Championship as well.

Arsenal-United games were always hotly contested at this time (particularly the Highbury encounters) and this was no different.
Both teams had good chances to take the lead but on forty minutes it was Arsenal who took first blood. Nwankwo Kanu linked up with Dennis Bergkamp, who set Freddie Ljungberg free in the box to give the Gunners the lead.

United levelled things up 13 minutes after half-time. Captain Roy Keane played a one-two with Andy (sorry, Andrew) Cole before scoring with a finish not too dissimilar from Ljungberg's.

From that point, the game went back and forth with chances for both sides, Keane and Patrick Vieira argued with each other, players needed to be pulled apart. As was standard in these fixtures.

The game seemed to be heading for a draw until two minutes from time. Ryan Giggs saw his effort blocked but it deflected into the path of Keane who scored to win the game and a fifth Unofficial Championship for Manchester United.

Unofficial Champions of England: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United, 01/08/1999

A re-match for the Unofficial English Championship in a Community Shield match at Wembley Stadium.

In the intervening period since these two sides previous epic encounter, Champions Manchester United had added the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League trophies to their collection. The weight of defending all four titles would be too much for any club to bear, even a colossus like United.

It started well, when David Beckham's free-kick hit the crossbar and Dwight Yorke followed up to give United a first half lead.

All looked good until midway through the second half when Denis Irwin pulled back on Patrick Vieira's shirt for a penalty to Arsenal. Nwankwo Kanu took the honours from 12 yards to equalise.

Then with thirteen minutes left, it was down to the 'Romford Pele' Ray Parlour to work his way into the box, shoot across goal and win the game, Community Shield and a third Unofficial English Championship for Arsenal.

Unofficial Champions of England: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United, 14/04/1999

Ryan Giggs celebrates THAT goal

Ok, is there anyone who doesn't remember this game?

The two top teams in the land meet in an FA Cup Semi-final replay at Villa Park. It has become much forgotten that if the assistant referee had not wrongly disallowed Roy Keane's effort three days previously, this game would likely never have happened.

Arsenal were the reigning double winners of the previous season (as well as Unofficial English Champions) while Manchester United were on the verge of something spectacular.

17 minutes gone and Teddy Sheringham tees the ball up for David Beckham, who from 25 yards out sweeps the ball well beyond the reach of Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman.

The score stayed that well until the 69th minute. From a similar position to Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp shot into the opposite corner to equalise for Arsenal.

Then it's all thrills and spills. Nicolas Anelka thinks he's won it, he's jumped into the stands...no, offside! Roy Keane brings down Marc Overmars, two yellow cards and he's off!
Last minute of the game, the 'Romford Pele' Ray Parlour brings the ball into the United penalty area, he's brought down by Phil Neville. Penalty! Bergkamp steps up to take it...AND IT'S SAVED BY SCHMEICHEL!

Extra-time and Ryan Giggs scores THAT goal. Do I even need to describe it to you? I'll just leave it to Martin Tyler:
'A rather weary one from Vieira. Giggs gets past Vieira, past Dixon who comes back at him...it’s a wonderful run from GIGGGGSSS! Sensational goal from Ryan Giggs in the second period of extra time. He’s cut Arsenal to ribbons and the team with 10 men go back in front 2-1.'

A game that had everything you could want as a football fan. Goals, drama, excitement and is rightly remembered as an all time classic.

And Manchester United got their fourth Unofficial Championship.

Unofficial Champions of England: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea, 31/01/1999

Dennis Bergkamp strikes for Arsenal

Chelsea went into the game at Highbury in good confidence. Two defeats in 31 games all season, second in the table and the Unofficial Champions of England. Their latest run had seen successful defences against Manchester United, Newcastle United, Coventry City and er, Oxford United and Oldham Athletic.

Arsenal wanted a bit of revenge for their 0-5 defeat to Chelsea two months previously as they put their own season back on track.

A familiar chant rang out at Highbury of 'One-Nil, to the Arsenal!' as Dutch Menace Dennis Bergkamp's well taken strike was enough to win the game for the Gunners against their London rivals.

Arsenal were Unofficial Champions for the second time.

Unofficial Champions of England: Southampton 0-2 Chelsea, 26/12/1998

Zola chips the ball for the onrushing Tore Andre Flo

Southampton players had a week to celebrate their time as English Champions, which included being Champions at Christmas. Boxing Day however brought the visit of former Champions Chelsea to The Dell.

The Chelsea side of 1998-99 is often overlooked but they really were quite good. They would finish 3rd in the table and only lost three league games all season. The problem was they drew 15.

No problems for the Blues this day. In the first half, Gianfranco Zola lofted the ball over the Southampton defence for Tore Andre Flo to side-foot Chelsea ahead.

Chelsea doubled their advantage in the second half. Saints goalkeeper Paul Jones was unable to keep a hold of Dan Petrescu's cross and Gustavo Poyet poked the ball into an empty net.

A fourth English Championship for Chelsea made for a fine late Christmas present.

For trivia fans, this game also saw the Premier League debut of one John George Terry.

Unofficial Champions of England: Southampton 3-1 Wimbledon, 19/12/1998

Champions Wimbledon had made two successful defences of their title with wins over both Coventry City and Liverpool. Match three however brought them to The Dell to take on fellow strugglers, Southampton.

Southampton were not in good form going into this game. They had only won one of their last six matches and had lost their last three.

The Saints took the lead early in the first half through Norwegian striker Egil Ostenstad. Goals were added in the second half by Hassan Kachloul and a second for Ostenstad.

Wimbledon did pull one back through Marcus Gayle but it was to be Southampton's day as they became English Champions for a third time.

Kachloul goal:

Unofficial Champions of England: Wimbledon 2-1 Chelsea, 01/12/1998

Michael Hughes scores from the penalty spot

Since winning the Unofficial English Championship, Chelsea had been on a three match run of defences that included a 3-0 win against their opponents for this Worthington Cup tie, Wimbledon.

'The Crazy Gang' often lived up to their nickname, with no one ever quite sure what they would get out of them.

Wimbledon's first goal came in typical fashion, a high ball into the box for Robbie Earle to head in.

The second goal came when Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf pulled down Marcus Gayle in the box. Michael Hughes converted the penalty, blasting high into the goal.
Chelsea did pull one back through player-manager Gianluca Vialli but it was too little too late.

It marked a second English Championship for the Dons.

Unofficial Champions of England: Arsenal 0-5 Chelsea, 11/11/1998

Champions Arsenal went on a four match run defending their Unofficial Championship, seeing off threats from former champions Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Derby County and Coventry City.

The fifth game was a League Cup tie against London rivals Chelsea. The Blues were on a decent run themselves, since an opening day defeat to Coventry they were unbeaten in their last 15 games in all competitions.

Chelsea took the lead in the 34th minute from a hotly contested penalty (what would an Arsenal-Chelsea game be without a little controversy?). Frank Leboeuf stepped up to calmly slot it home.

Chelsea ran away with it in the second half thanks to two goals apiece for Gianluca Vialli and Gustavo Poyet (though there is an argument Poyet's first should be credited as an own goal, I doubt Giles Grimandi will be too keen to claim it).

Arsenal fans will no doubt point to a much changed side for this game, however the history books will only show a 5-0 win for Chelsea at Highbury. And their third Unofficial Championship.