It was in May 2002 that Arsenal last scored a league goal at the home of Manchester United, during the game in which they claimed the Premiership title.
A goalless draw and three 2-0 defeats followed, but it was Arsene Wenger who held his arms aloft in triumph after a superb display from his team.
For United, it was their first defeat of the season and ended their 100 per cent winning record. The only surprise was that it took the Londoners 86 minutes to break the deadlock.
They missed a penalty, hit the post and were denied by several fine saves from United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak, making his debut in place of the injured Edwin Van der Sar.
But the Polish keeper, who joined United during the summer from West Brom, was finally beaten just when the game seemed to be heading for a goalless stalemate.
The goal stemmed from over elaboration on the part Cristiano Ronaldo, when he lost the ball to Cesc Fabregas midway inside his own half.
Fabergas jinked his way past three United defenders before slipping his final pass through to Emmanuel Adebayor in the box, and the Togo international slotted it under the advancing Kuszczak.
Arsenal looked the more determined team from the start and should have gone ahead in the 11th minute.
The brilliant Fabregas played the first of many telling passes when he picked out Adebayor in the area with a pinpoint 25-yard throughball.
As Adebayor tried to round the keeper he was brought down by Kuszczak and referee Graham Poll awarded a spot-kick.
Up stepped Gilberto Silva to blast his right-footed penalty to Kuszczak's right, only to see him guess correctly and turn the shot away.
United were still breathing a collective sigh of relief when they were almost caught cold again within a minute.
Adebayor soared above the United defence to connect with Freddie Ljungberg's corner. The header was brilliantly turned onto the post by the diving Kuszczak and the rebound was cleared off the line by Paul Scholes, as William Gallas moved in for the kill.
United were now reeling and it took another fine save by Kuszczak at full stretch to keep out Tomas Rosicky's fierce shot.
The Red Devils were saved again soon after, this time when Gary Neville's last-ditch tackle denied Adebayor after he had sidestepped Wes Brown.
Neville produced another saving tackle on Ljungberg deep into first-half stoppage-time, but by then United were beginning to threaten Arsenal.
In the 27th minute, Arsenal shot-stopper Jens Lehmann turned away a rasping drive from Ronaldo, and the Portuguese was again foiled by Lehmann two minutes before the break.
Darren Fletcher's raking right wing cross found Ronaldo free at the far post and his powerful eight-yard shot hit the German in the face.
The Arsenal keeper, who had earlier handled the ball outside the box, recovered from the blow, but then appeared to kick an object into the crowd.
United edged the second half, although Kuszczak was forced to make another fine save from Adebayor after 63 minutes.
But it was the Gunners who got the vital goal, although United almost levelled two minutes from time when Lehmann brilliantly turned away Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's shot from 12 yards at full stretch.