Arsenal hero Martin Keown would not really feel like did something unsuitable when celebrating Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penalty miss at Outdated Trafford in 2003.
Dubbed ‘The Battle of Outdated Trafford’, Manchester United and Arsenal performed out a controversial and ill-tempered match in September 2003, which resulted in Patrick Vieira receiving a purple card and Ruud van Nistelrooy lacking a late penalty.
Although they weren’t to comprehend it, that penalty miss saved Arsenal’s unbeaten file within the 2003/04 season, the identical marketing campaign they managed to win the Premier League whereas undefeated. Martin Keown reacted strongly to the miss, leaping in entrance of the Dutchman and bringing his arms down into him whereas doing so.
Arsenal hero Martin Keown has no “regrets” about Ruud van Nistelrooy incident
“That picture is on the again of my guide, and beneath it are the phrases ‘no regrets’,” Keown tells FourFourTwo. “You possibly can solely make choices on what’s in entrance of you at the moment, and at the moment we felt actually exhausting accomplished by.
“Going to Outdated Trafford was robust: you needed to work exhausting to get issues and, sure, there have been instances once we felt choices went towards us. Patrick Vieira was despatched off in that sport, and there was numerous historical past between the groups.
“Come 2003, and that sport at Outdated Trafford when Ruud van Nistelrooy missed his late penalty, my feelings had been laid naked. We felt that United had been working soccer and also you had been fortunate to get a free-kick there, not to mention a penalty. When Ruud missed the penalty, I confirmed how I felt. You possibly can say it’s not sporting, however I didn’t hit anybody – I jumped in entrance of somebody and cheered.”
Keown provides that he would not remorse how he reacted, regardless of Van Nistelrooy additionally receiving a push from Lauren and confrontation from Kolo Toure, Ashley Cole and Ray Parlour, too.
“Some United followers have in contrast it to the Eric Cantona incident at Crystal Palace. Come on, it’s nothing like that,” Keown says. “I’ve no regrets about it.”
Arsenal went on to complete the season 15 factors forward of Manchester United, who got here third and behind Chelsea.