The 14 players who played for Arsenal and Manchester United

Throughout the history of English football, not many teams have had a more fierce rivalry than Arsenal and Manchester United. The two dominant English forces have locked horns many times in the history of the game, with the most notable period of this rivalry coming when Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson were in charge. 

Few players would dare to explore enemy lines, but it has been known. With that being said, here are the 14 players who played for Arsenal and Manchester United, in chronological order.

The 14 players who played for Arsenal and Manchester United

1. Caesar Jenkyns

The first player on this list is Caesar Jenkyns, who made the switch from Woolwich Arsenal to Newton Heath (now Manchester United) in 1896. 

The Welsh footballer represented Arsenal for just one year, making 27 domestic appearances for the Gunners towards the end of the 1800s. He matches this tenure at Newton Heath (now Manchester United) but he made more appearances there. 

A classy centre half who represented his country and even scored a goal for Wales, he was the first player to make the switch from Arsenal to Manchester United, despite both clubs being known under different names then. Who followed his trend?

2. David Herd

After Jenkyns, it took almost 60 years for another player to explore enemy lines. However, it did happen, in the form of David Herd.

Herd had a great tenure at Highbury and he is recognised on the official website as being Arsenal's leading goal-scorer for four consecutive seasons. He was certainly a prolific goal-scorer, as his career statistics speak for themselves. Making 430 domestic league appearances, he netted an impressive 228 goals across his five different clubs.

He made the switch from Arsenal to Manchester United in 1961, having scored 97 league goals in 166 appearances in London. At Manchester United, he is mostly recognised as being a club legend, scoring 114 league goals. In truth, he is remembered fondly by both sets of fans, despite making the unspoken switch.

David Herd was a legend of the game and a forward who could still be used in training videos for upcoming players to this day.

3. Ian Ure

The next player who played for Arsenal and Manchester United is Ian Ure. The 23-year-old at the time signed for Arsenal in 1963, having impressed while he was playing in his home country Scotland. He ended up playing his best years at Highbury before making the jump to Manchester United in 1969.

Ure was a prototype for what made great Scottish defenders. He combined tenacity and intelligence with an eagerness to defend every shot, often putting his body on the line. This wrote him into the history books for Arsenal for a lifetime.

Perhaps the game which personified Ure the most was against Manchester United in 1967, when he received a six-match ban alongside Denis Law for multiple altercations between the two players. Ultimately, he joined Manchester United in 1969 but it's safe to say, he will mostly be remembered for his six-year tenure with Arsenal and five-year stint with boyhood club Dundee.

4. Jimmy Rimmer

The first example of a player who moved TO Arsenal FROM Manchester United is Jimmy Rimmer, who made the switch in 1974. He was a reliable player for both Manchester United and Arsenal but ultimately, he made the switch to pick up more game time in London, which was achieved.

Rimmer had his breakthrough at Arsenal, winning the Player of the Season award in his first attempt. Ultimately, he spent three seasons impressing at Highbury and he became a fan favourite for his consistency between the sticks.

He played 124 league matches for Arsenal but all in all, he will be mostly remembered for his time after, when he joined Aston Villa and became a club legend there. Rimmer will have no regrets after leaving his boyhood club Manchester United as he left a great legacy at both Arsenal and Aston Villa.

5. George Graham

When it comes to Arsenal legends, not many can top the legacy which George Graham left on the club. He actually joined Arsenal from Chelsea in 1966, representing the club for six years. He spent some time mastering the centre forward role to help out during seasons of need but he then returned to the more familiar midfielder role.

Graham eventually left Arsenal to join Manchester United in 1972, after making 227 league appearances for Arsenal. It wasn't to be for him in Manchester, scoring two league goals in two years.

Ultimately, Graham returned to Arsenal but not as a player. Instead, he managed the club for nine years, winning many honours and achieving some great triumphs. As a manager, he left a great legacy behind as he was the brains behind signing Ian Wright, who is obviously a club legend in his own right.

For Graham to play for Manchester United but still be known by many as an Arsenal legend tells you everything you must know about his character.

6. Brian Kidd

Brian Kidd is a great example of a boyhood Manchester United star-boy. He came through the Manchester United academy in the 1960s and signed his first professional contract with the first team in the late 1960s, playing for the first team for many seasons and racking up over 200 league appearances for United, before joining Arsenal.

He made the controversial switch from Manchester United to Arsenal in 1974. He played well for the Gunners but it never looked like he would stop for long and this was ultimately his fate, since in 1976 he signed for Manchester... City.

Yep, never one for loyalty, Brian Kidd ended up making eight transfers over the course of his illustrious career. Perhaps this was part of his genius that he never felt settled at any club. We'll put it down to Kidd being a journeyman.

7. Frank Stapleton

Frank Stapleton began his career with Arsenal and spent some incredible seasons at Highbury between the years of 1974-1981. During the seven year stint, Stapleton racked up an impressive 225 league appearances and scored 75 goals. Before he could reach the 100 club, though, he joined Manchester United in 1981, after scoring against them to win the FA Cup in 1979.

Stapleton always seemed destined to join Manchester United, unfortunately. And so he did. Not much could differentiate his time with Arsenal and Man United since at both clubs, he reached world-class levels, being one of the best finishers in the world. Mostly known for his incredible heading ability, he left a great legacy at both clubs.

He spent six years at Manchester United before moving abroad to join Ajax. It wasn't to be for him in the Netherlands, though, and his career never hit the heights he set at Arsenal and Manchester United after leaving.

8. Viv Anderson MBE

Viv Anderson MBE was an incredible full-back and one who can certainly be considered an Arsenal legend. The Nottingham-born defender spent his early and best years with Nottingham Forest but he certainly brought his A-game to Arsenal, being influential in their transitional period.

Viv Anderson was influential to the development of Tony Adams, who is known by everyone in North London as Mr Arsenal. Even if this was Anderson's only involvement at Highbury, it was certainly a great one and worthy of mention. It wasn't though, as Anderson had a splendid time in North London, spending three years and being offered a contract extension at the end.

It was a contract extension which Anderson turned down to sign for Manchester United. It was unfortunate news for Arsenal, who were undergoing some great progress under George Graham. Still, it was not to be for Anderson in Manchester, as his game-time was cut significantly.

9. Andy Cole

Infamously, Andy Cole is the one who got away. He is one of the many examples of players who improved after leaving Arsenal. In fact, to say "improved" would be an understament - Cole is one of the best strikers of all-time.

However, he is not necessarily remembered for his time with Arsenal as a boy. Instead, he is remembered for joining Manchester United as a man and becoming THE man.

Andy Cole spent three years with Arsenal after signing his first professional contract. However, he was limited to just one league appearance during this time, most of the time he was sent out on loan.

It wasn't until 1993 when Cole had his breakthrough with Newcastle United, before being signed by Manchester United in 1995.

Still, Arsenal probably won't regret letting go of Cole too much, since Ian Wright was also coming through at the same time.

10. Mikael Silvestre

It took over ten years after Andy Cole made the switch for the next player to follow suit and much like his predecessor, Mikael Silvestre will be mostly remembered for his time with Manchester United, rather than Arsenal.

The defender is a Manchester United legend, having won four Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson and, of course, the Champions League. He was a brute force and one who had some great encounters with Arsenal during his days at Old Trafford.

For whatever reason, he decided to sign for Arsenal in 2008 and truthfully, fans wish this transfer was never made. He played with Arsenal for two years before joining Werder Bremen. Perhaps Silvestre was the right player at the wrong time as far as Arsenal are concerned because his better days were certainly with Manchester United.

11. Robin van Persie

Robin van Persie needs no introduction to Arsenal fans but for those who didn't skip this slide in a moment of rage - Firstly, I give you kudos for your calm temprament and secondly, allow me to re-introduce you to the flying Dutchman.

Van Persie joined Arsenal from Feyenoord in 2004, winning the Community Shield and FA Cup in his first season. He spent eight seasons with Arsenal, becoming one of the best players the Emirates Stadium had ever seen and scoring many important goals for the club. However, he tarnished his legacy by leaving to join Manchester United.

The Arsenal captain at the time joined Manchester United in 2012 and despite scoring more league goals for Arsenal, had his greatest success at their bitter rivals Manchester United. He won the Premier League in 2013, infamously given the guard of honour by Arsenal players at the time. It was embarrassing to watch.

12. Danny Welbeck

Danny Welbeck is one of the more harmless players on this list. Asking both Manchester United fans and Arsenal fans, I'm sure they'd find common ground in liking Danny Welbeck. After all, he was a likeable player for both fans (as much as he did love scoring against Man United as an Arsenal striker).

Welbeck represented Manchester United for six years, after coming through their youth academy. It was a fruitful six years in the first team too, when he won the Premier League once and the League Cup twice. Then, in 2014, he made the switch to Arsenal.

For Arsenal, he won the FA Cup twice. He had some great moments, including when he came off the bench against the champions-elect Leicester City after returning from injury and scoring THAT header that made all Arsenal fans believe.

All in all, Welbeck was a great striker who can look back on his career with no regrets.

13. Alexis Sanchez

I would say that Alexis Sanchez follows a similar tale to Robin van Persie but hilariously, the Chilean international didn't have half the fruitful time at Old Trafford that the Dutchman did.

Alexis Sanchez needs no introduction to Arsenal fans who remember him well. Admittedly, he is one of the best Arsenal players of recent times, signed by Arsene Wenger in 2014 from Barcelona.

At Arsenal, Alexis had the best spell of his career, genuinely becoming one of the best wingers in the world during his time. He won the FA Cup twice whilst with Arsenal.

At Manchester United, he failed to win any major honours as he slowly found himself surplus to requirements after signing for them in 2018. He spent two seasons at United but he was out on loan during one of those seasons. Safe to say, his piano performance was his best performance in Manchester.

14. Henrikh Mkhitaryan

The last recorded player to represent both Arsenal and Manchester United is the Armenian winger Henrikh Mkhitaryan. He was involved in the swap deal which saw Alexis Sanchez go the other way. As a big surprise to everybody, Mkhitaryan actually proved to the better player out of the two after the deal was made.

Mkhitaryan played for Manchester United between 2016-2018 and then matched that stint at Arsenal between 2018-2020. At the two clubs, he played the same number of Premier League matches (39) but he scored more goals at Arsenal (8) than he did at Manchester United (5).

He played for both clubs during their worst periods but he did manage to win the Europa League whilst he was at Manchester United. Mostly known for his creativity, it's safe to say that his best days were left behind at Borussia Dortmund before he moved to the Premier League.

How many players on this list of players to play for Arsenal and Manchester United could you recall?