Steve Sidwell has recalled the moment former Manchester United captain Roy Keane told him to "f*** off" when he was a youngster at Arsenal .
Keane had a reputation as the enforcer in United's midfield and was at the centre of a fierce rivalry with the Gunners during their Premier League glory years.
The Irishman hit out at Manchester United and Liverpool players for "hugging and kissing" in the tunnel before their derby at Old Trafford on Sunday.
But former Chelsea midfielder Sidwell admitted he could see Keane's point of view on the matter - pointing to the time he gave him the cold shoulder when he wanted an autograph in the tunnel before a game at Highbury.
Speaking on Joe.co.uk's Liquid Football podcast, Sidwell said: "I can see what Roy Keane is saying.
"I remember being at Arsenal when I was in the youth system.
"I was at Highbury with my match day programme and he told me to f*** off because he was going out to war against Arsenal.
"It was a tight tunnel and I was just like "okay", but now looking back on it I know what it means to him.
"They were going down there and they're arch rivals."
Keane, who was once involved in a high-profile tunnel bust-up with rival Patrick Vieira at Highbury, said on Sky Sports at the weekend: "I'm disgusted with players [scenes in the tunnel]. You're going to war, they're hugging and kissing.
"Don't even look at the opposition. You're going into battle against them.
"The game hasn't changed that much, the players have changed. You're going to war against these players and they're hugging each other.
"Chat to them after the game, or don't even chat to them after the game."
