The 35-year-old Welshman came on as a 67th-minute substitute in United's 1-0 defeat of Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final, first leg and almost marked the occasion with a goal, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Giggs, voted England's Player of the Year by his peers in the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) on Sunday, won praise from an unlikely source before Wednesday's match -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
"I have so much respect for him. He started his career in 1991 and we are now in 2009. When a player has spent 18 years at that level you have to have complete respect when you know what it demands - the sacrifices, the focus," Wenger said.
Although Sunday's award was his first major individual honour, Giggs is the most decorated player in the history of English soccer with 10 league championship medals, two Champions League medals, four FA Cups and three League Cups among his vast collection of silverware.
He no longer "tramps up and down the left wing" as United manager Alex Ferguson puts it, but he is still capable of turning a match with his sublime touch, his eye for the killer pass and even the rare goal.
Last season he broke Bobby Charlton's all-time appearance record for United when he played his 759th match as a substitute in the Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow.
His name is etched into United's glittering history and his team mate Edwin van der Sar thinks that no-one will ever match his achievements.
"It will be hard to beat his record," the Dutch goalkeeper was quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News.
"There are so many changes now with transfers and everything else and Ryan started out early. You will not see anything like that in future.
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