Arsenal legend calls Ruud van Nistelrooy a ‘nasty individual’ after what he did at Man Utd

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Arsenal’s historic rivalry with Manchester United saw them engage in some legendary clashes and fierce battles over the years.

Arsene Wenger went toe to toe with Sir Alex Ferguson in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and there were some box-office matches between Arsenal and Man United.

Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira were usually the focus in the middle of the park, as things got heated between the two midfield powerhouses, and several games saw sparks fly between both sets of players.

Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was a figure particularly hated by Arsenal and their fans, and the current Man United interim manager has now been slammed, with the rivalry reigniting.

• READ MORE: Who are The Invincibles? Meet the Arsenal record-breakers who became Premier League legends

Martin Keown slams Ruud van Nistelrooy after historic Arsenal vs Man United rivalry

Arsenal legend Martin Keown was a key figure in these battles against Man United, and the fierce defender had a long-standing rivalry with Van Nistelrooy, with the most iconic moment coming in the ‘Battle of Old Trafford’ in 2003.

Over 20 years later, Keown has reignited the flame of the rivalry, as he has now hit out at Van Nistelrooy over his antics back then.

“I couldn’t trust Ruud,” Keown told The Rest Is Football Podcast.

“Because he was quite physical and a nasty individual, but he’d go over like a pack of cards, just collapse, and you’re like you’re trying to pick him up and he’s trying to buy a cheap foul or a free kick, so there was a distrust from Ruud.”

Martin Keown eager to end Ruud van Nistelrooy rivalry

With Van Nistelrooy now in coaching, Keown was eager to emphasise that the rivalry can be left in the past, but the striker may not agree.

“Look that’s all gone now, if I saw him now – I did try to shake his hand actually in the semifinal that year when they beat us in the FA Cup to say ‘sorry don’t take it personally,’ although he jumped back away from me – I think it was frightened!” Keown added.

Van Nistelrooy was a thorn in Arsenal’s side for years, but Wenger’s team enjoyed a truly historic moment when he missed a last-minute penalty – which would have ended the Invincibles’ unbeaten run, and this saw Keown jump on the striker.

The Arsenal Invincibles and Van Nistelrooy hated each other in the peak of the rivalry, but this made for incredible viewing as some of the Premier League’s best-ever games.