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Nani: Sporting Lisbon star set to face Arsenal - Arsene Wenger HATED him at Man Utd
NANI is set to play some role in Sporting Lisbon’s clash against Arsenal tonight. And fans can be forgiven for jeering the former Manchester United star given Arsene Wenger’s hatred of the Portugal international.
Nani is set to play when Sporting Lisbon face Arsenal in the Europa League tonight. And he will no doubt be delighted to wreck havoc against the Gunners.
No team brought out the best in the Portugal international than Wenger’s Arsenal. It was against them, when at Manchester United, where he genuinely looked worthy of being Cristiano Ronaldo’s heir.
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Two moments of magic stand out. And both ended with United cruising to victory.
In February 2008, United and Arsenal locked horns in the FA Cup with both teams jostling for a place at the Premier League summit at the time.
But, that night, there was only one winner.
Manchester United ripped through Arsenal, producing an attacking performance than simmered with attacking intent.
Wayne Rooney scored twice and Darren Fletcher got on the scoresheet too.
But Nani was man of the match.
This was his first season at the club since joining from Sporting the previous summer. And this was the moment where he rose to the fore.
Nani tormented Arsenal that day. At one point, he dared embark on a ‘seal dribble’ run up the pitch. Gunners fans tried to slice him down, but were unsuccessful.
Wenger was LIVID afterwards. He called out the forward, trying to defend his blood-hungry players, saying: “You don’t want to be teased or humiliated.”
It didn’t stop there.
Nani cranked his tormenting of Arsenal up a notch two years later.
He scored a stunning effort in a 3-1 victory at the Emirates, chopping his way past two players before looping the ball over Manuel Almunia.
It was sumptuous and, months after that, Nani stuck the knife into Wenger’s side by omitting their name from the title race.
Hilarious moment Jamie Carragher relives THAT Nani tackle
Wenger responded, mocking the Portugal star.
“Everybody has a different opinion in this league and nobody is a prophet,” he said.
“I personally don’t know who will win the league. I managed 1,600 games so, if Nani knows, he must be 1,600 times more intelligent than I am.”
Nani will be fired up for tonight’s game.
But whether Unai Emery can succeed where Wenger failed by shackling the Portugal star remains to be seen.