Arsenal hero Martin Keown does not really feel like did something improper when celebrating Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penalty miss at Previous Trafford in 2003.
Dubbed ‘The Battle of Previous Trafford’, Manchester United and Arsenal performed out a controversial and ill-tempered match in September 2003, which resulted in Patrick Vieira receiving a pink card and Ruud van Nistelrooy lacking a late penalty.
Although they weren’t to comprehend it, that penalty miss saved Arsenal’s unbeaten report 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 ebook, and under it are the phrases ‘no regrets’,” Keown tells FourFourTwo. “You’ll be able to solely make choices on what’s in entrance of you at the moment, and at the moment we felt actually laborious executed by.
“Going to Previous Trafford was powerful: you needed to work laborious to get issues and, sure, there have been instances once we felt choices went towards us. Patrick Vieira was despatched off in that recreation, and there was quite a lot of historical past between the groups.
“Come 2003, and that recreation at Previous 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’ll be able to say it’s not sporting, however I didn’t hit anybody – I jumped in entrance of somebody and cheered.”
Keown provides that he does 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.
