Crystal Palace manager and Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira couldn’t resist the urge to reference an infamous bust-up between himselfr and Roy Keane after the Eagles’ 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.
Vieira’s side were desperately close to taking all three points in north London, but Alexandre Lacazette’s last-gasp strike rescued a point for the Gunners.
Despite being obviously disappointed by the result, the Frenchman was in good spirits after the game, highlighted by his reference to a disagreement he had with Keane when he was captain of Arsenal.
Manchester United legend Keane didn’t take too kindly to something that was said to his teammate Gary Neville by the Arsenal skipper before the two sides – then the dominant Premier League teams – faced each other at Highbury in 2005.
The argument threatened to spill over into a brawl between Keane and Vieira before referee Graham Poll had to separate the captains from each other.
Neville, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, asked Vieira on Monday Night Football whether he nearly lost his temper with the Palace side for conceding such a late goal, but Palace’s manager joked that he’s only angry when someone provokes him.
“I have always been calm - even in the tunnel - it is just other people stressing me,” he told Neville.
“The previous manager I had was really calm and that is the message you want to give to the players.
“Inside I am boiling and excited about every moment of the game but this is who I am.”
Arsenal fans will have enjoyed Vieira’s comments, but they will be less encouraged by their team’s performance.
However, a clash with Aston Villa is just a matter of days away, and the Gunners can get things back on track with a fourth Premier League victory of the season.
