Roy Keane fumes over what he saw in Emirates tunnel ahead of Arsenal vs Man Utd

03 September 2023 , 16:02

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Roy Keane fumes over what he saw in Emirates tunnel ahead of Arsenal vs Man Utd

Roy Keane was not impressed with the niceties between Arsenal and Manchester United's players ahead of their Emirates showdown.

The two sides resumed rivalries on Sunday after battling for supremacy in English football for most of the 90s and 2000s under Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

Former United skipper Keane was involved in one of the most high-profile tunnel incidents in Premier League history when he clashed with Patrick Vieira in the Highbury tunnel before a match in 2005.

Keane took exception to Vieira's behaviour towards teammate, and now Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville, in one of many spats between the pair during their playing days.

But there was nothing of the sort on Sunday afternoon as the players lined up in the Emirates tunnel. United new boy Sergio Reguilon was seen greeting Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard, before goalkeepers Aaron Ramsdale and Andre Onana were also seen in conversation.

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Unsurprisingly Sky pundit Keane wasn't happy with the scenes after discussing his battles with Arsenal. He said: "You were going to war, you were going to battle. That was what it was about.

Martin Odegaard with Sergio Reguilon before the game (Sky Sports)

"I am looking at the tunnel there, everyone thinks I am old school but I don't know why you'd be chatting to people you are just about to go into battle against. You are going to be kicking lumps out of each other.

"Why are you shaking hands? I'd shake hands after the game but not before the battle. Maybe these younger lads will educate me."

Fellow pundit Theo Walcott was on Keane's side though, insisting: "I was never into it. Maybe the goalkeeper side of things but no, I wouldn't do that."

Keane had earlier admitted he wasn't convinced Arsenal would challenge for the title again this season despite a hefty summer outlay. He said: "Obviously they've strengthened the squad, they were brilliant last season, particularly at the start but we were here at the end when they ran out of steam physically and mentally. I still think they're short, only because Man City are so good, the rest of the teams are playing catch up.

" Arsenal are I suppose the best of the rest, but I still think that's their challenge this year. I don't think anyone can touch City if they keep that hunger up, especially the way they've started, but Arsenal are a very good team, but still question marks over them."

Liam Prenderville