Arsenal vs Manchester United: A rivalry that bred hatred and saw brawls, Keane vs Vieira and food fights
When Roy Keane angrily confronted Patrick Vieira in the tunnel before a Manchester United vs Arsenal game in 2005, tensions between the clubs were at an all-time high.They haven’t been the same since.Back then the Premier League heavyweights were fighting each other for domestic dominance, whereas now the two are engaged in a battle for fourth place.
5Keane took exception to Vieira trying to intimidate Gary Neville in the tunnel and angrily shouted: “I’ll see you out there”However, the bitter rivalry that thrilled football supporters for most of the 90s and early noughties pre-dated Keane vs Vieira and Arsene Wenger vs Sir Alex Ferguson.In fact, it pre-dated the Premier League, beginning in January 1987 according to Fergie nine years before Wengers arrival in north London.“There was a fierce rivalry when George Graham was there and I’d just come down, he told The Times in 2009.Arsenal had been on a 22-game unbeaten run and then we beat them at Old Trafford and it was one of those games when big Norman [Whiteside] did about 45 fouls and never got booked. How he got away with it I’ll never know,” he added.
5Before Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson’s opponent in the Arsenal dugout was George GrahamGraham has never forgotten his first exchange with his compatriot.“David O’Leary was getting kicked all over the place by Norman Whiteside, he told The Guardian.David Rocastle was provoked so much that he got sent off and there was a big row coming off the pitch. Alex Ferguson and his then assistant Archie Knox were right in our faces and I thought: ‘Jesus Christ! That’ll be the first and last time they intimidate us. We’re not going to be bullied any more’.”A year later Arsenal beat United in an FA Cup tie and Nigel Winterburn goaded Brian McClair after the strikers penalty miss.
That incident then had an influence on a 21-man brawl in 1990, which saw both clubs deducted points two for Arsenal and one for United.Maybe it means we won the actual brawl, Perry Groves, who was part of that Arsenal squad told talkSPORT.After the game, George told us it was exactly what he wanted players looking out for each other. He said: Thats what Im saying in here, but in the press Im going to have to say I dont condone it and its not how I expect my players to behave. I think a couple of the lads got fined a weeks wages!
5Arsenal and Manchester United players fight on the pitch during a game in 1990Fast forward a few years to Wengers arrival in 1996 and Arsenal, league champions in 1989 and 1991, began to challenge Uniteds early dominance in the Premier League era that saw them win the first two titles following its introduction in 1992.Both teams were evenly matched and only the finest of margins separated them in league and cup competitions, Arsenal were a missed Dennis Bergkamp penalty away from a place in the 1999 FA Cup final, which would have ended United’s treble dream.Other notable incidents include Phil Neville receiving a yellow card after just 27 SECONDS in the 2003 Community Shield for crunching Vieira. In 2003, six Arsenal players and two United stars were charged with improper conduct following the ‘Battle of Old Trafford,’ with Arsenal charged for ‘failing to ensure the proper behaviour of their players’.
5Martin Keown goads Ruud van Nistelrooy after the striker missed his penalty in 2003A year later a match that became known as the ‘Battle of the Buffet’ saw Man United end Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten run where Wayne Rooney won a controversial penalty. Furious players clashed in the tunnel afterwards culminating in Cesc Fabregas throwing a slice of pizza at Ferguson’s face.Then there was Keane and Vieira, captains of United and Arsenal respectively andwinners who brought out the best in each other. I had a lot of hatred for Arsenal, because they were our big rivals, Keane told ITV in 2013.Hes my favourite enemy, Vieira added.
5Everyone looked forward to Man United v Arsenal, especially Keane and Vieira’s midfield warFerguson and Wenger, meanwhile, was the feud that kept on giving.Our mental duels keep me awake, the former Arsenal boss once said about Fergies mind games.There were confrontations, because there were two teams and two managers battling for one award: the Premier League,” Fergie told United Review. “In my time, we had a few arguments but I always did really respect the man because he did a fantastic job at his club.”Man United vs Arsenal, Keane vs Vieira, Ferguson vs Wenger; it made the Premier League.
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