Martin Keown, the Arsenal legend, offered an apology to former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy on Saturday. This apology comes 22 years after their notorious clash at Old Trafford in 2003. The pair caught up before Leicester's Premier League clash with Arsenal at King Power Stadium where Keown was working as a pundit for TNT Sports and Van Nistelrooy was managing the Foxes.
Keown and Van Nistelrooy infamously came to blows during a memorable encounter between Arsenal and Manchester United in a game since labelled the ‘Battle of Old Trafford’. This incident occurred at the peak of rivalry between both clubs and their respective managers - Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United and Arsene Wenger of Arsenal. The match ended in a goalless draw but not without its share of drama. Late into the game, Van Nistelrooy missed a penalty which led to him being confronted by several angry Arsenal players when the final whistle blew.
Keown led these full-time “shenanigans” when he jumped up next to Van Nistelrooy and barged into his back, sparking off a melee between both sets of players. The Football Association subsequently charged both clubs for this incident which has since been etched into football history books.
Friendly exchange years later
Fast forward 22 years later, Keown met with Van Nistelrooy pitchside ahead of Leicester vs Arsenal. After exchanging friendly handshakes, they reminisced about their past encounters on field.
Van Nistelrooy initiated conversation saying: “Martin are you OK? Good to see you.” To which Keown responded: “Nice to see you.” Van Nistelrooy added: “It’s been a while eh? I have seen you once at Villa Park, you remember?”
Keown then took the opportunity to apologise for past events saying: “Yes. Apologies for all of the shenanigans that went on back in the day.”
Van Nistelrooy brushed off the 2003 incident and both reflected on their "good rivalry" with an exchange of tactics from their famed grudge.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Leicester City manager, said:
“Eh, what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch,”
“I am happy that I have him in front of me, not at the back of me you know. It was a good rivalry, wasn’t it?”
This encounter between Keown and Van Nistelrooy serves as a reminder of one of football's most heated rivalries. It also shows how time can heal old wounds, allowing former adversaries to look back at their shared history with a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. This is indeed an engaging narrative for sports fans and sports betting fans alike, who continue to witness intense rivalries in football today.
