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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jake Polden

Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane's tunnel bust-up at Arsenal and what sparked infamous spat

Back in 2005 Arsenal and Manchester United were by far the Premier League's best two sides.

Both teams boasted class, technique and aggression, and every player a winner's mentality.

Two players who epitomised all of these things - particularly the latter two - were Arsenal's Patrick Vieira and Manchester United's Roy Keane.

And ahead of a Premier League clash between the two sides at the Gunners' former home ground, Highbury, things hit boiling point in the tunnel.

Sky Sports captured the confrontation as referee Graham Poll spoke to both players to calm them down before leading them out onto the pitch.

Referee Graham Poll speaks to Roy Keane in the tunnel at Highbury (PA)

There has been much speculation regarding what caused the argument throughout the years, but it was Gary Neville on Soccer Am who set the story straight.

He explained: "I could hear these footsteps behind me and Vieira shouting, 'Neville! Neville! You're not going to kick our players out on this pitch today'.

"Roy obviously turned back, heard him and started having a go at him. He [Vieira] sort of squirted his water bottle towards Roy, then all hell broke loose."

Patrick Vieira gets a talking to following the argument at Arsenal (PA)

Manchester United went on to win the match 4-2.

On the impact the spat had on the game, the former Red Devils right-back added: "People say you often win the game in the tunnel, I'm not sure it's that far wrong.

Man United's Keane and Arsenal's Vieira in action during the game back in 2005 (Reuters)

"We went out onto the pitch knowing we were the better team, knowing we were physically quite tough and wouldn't be pushed around.

"The handshake was quite prolonged [with Vieira] but what I was saying to him was you can shout all you like but there's a football game to be played and I won't be influenced by what you're saying."

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