FIVE days before Munich, Manchester United beat Arsenal at Highbury in what would be the team’s last league game. It was one of the finest and most fluctuating seen at that stadium. I was lucky enough to report it.

Champions in the past two seasons, United seemed to be at the peak of their powers, vindicating Matt Busby’s policy of giving youth its fling. In 1954, when his “Babes” won a rollercoaster match 6-5 at Chelsea, I asked him about his philosophy. His answer was simple: “If you don’t put them in, you can’t know what’ve you got.” Adventure and exuberance were the essence of his team. He was less a tactician than an inspiration: in the 1948 FA Cup final against Blackpool, United went a goal down and he just told them: “Keep on playing football.” They did and they won.

United played with flying wingers and a potent centre-forward in Tommy Taylor. Powerful backing came from the wing-halves: on the right was Eddie Colman, known for his sinuous body swerves and who never won the England cap he deserved; by contrast, Duncan Edwards, the left-half, was a supreme physical specimen.

The wingers were the Welshman Ken Morgans on the right, the tireless Albert Scanlon on the left, with Johnny Berry and David Pegg in reserve. Roger Byrne, left-back and captain, saw to it that his wingers played as such. “Get up the field, Albert,” I once heard him shout at Scanlon. “You’re playing outside-left!”

Scanlon, as he showed at Highbury in one devastating burst, had the energy to cover the whole touchline. Mark Jones was the centre-half that day, and there was the exciting Bobby Charlton, tremendous with either foot.

The big blond Ulsterman Harry Gregg had taken over in goal. Bill Foulkes was the imposing right-back, and Dennis Viollet an inside-forward of style and thrust, though United could also have called on the outstanding Irishman Liam Whelan.

In the first half of this game United’s panache swept Arsenal away. A 25-yard fusillade from Edwards gave United the lead in 10 minutes. Scanlon raced from his own penalty box to Arsenal’s to set up Charlton to score the second. Charlton would call Scanlon’s the best solo run he had ever seen. When Jack Kelsey failed to hold Morgan’s centre, Taylor got the third.

The Gunners seemed gone, yet in the second half there was a transformation. When left-half and skipper Dave Bowen crossed, David Herd seemed well marked, but he slipped past Jones to score. Suddenly Arsenal were thriving. Within 30 seconds, Jimmy Bloomfield cracked home a short pass from Vic Groves and then skilfully headed in a cross by Bowen for 3-3 and a mighty roar from the 63,578 crowd.

But almost at once United were ahead again through Taylor. Four goals in 3½ minutes. Viollet then tore in along the goal line for a shot that Kelsey lamentably missed. In a final flourish, Arsenal made it 4-5 after Derek Tapscott drove in a fine shot. But United, with their superior artistry, deservedly prevailed.

ONE Life, Munich Air Disaster, Wednesday, BBC1, 10.40pm