Martin Keown issued an apology for Ruud Van Nistelrooy for his 'mischief' in the 'battle of Old Trafford' in 2003, before the Arsenal match against Leicester on Saturday afternoon.
The ancient rivals participated in an incident in September 2003, in a game between Man United and Arsenal, where Keown was fined for hitting Van Nistelrooy in the back after full time.
The Gunners were second at the Premier League table, with an undefeated record that went back at the end of the previous season, while United sat behind them in third place.
The matter reached its boiling point when the Red Devils received a last -minute penalty after Keown followed Diego Forlan. After Nistelrooy Van lost his shot, Keown jumped towards him, laughing on his face.
But, more than 20 years after the iconic event, Keown and Van Nistelrooy tried to bury the ax on live television. THe two exchanged jokes before awkwardly remembering the events of that game.
“It's good to see you,” said Van Nistelrooy, smiling as he extended his arm for a handshake.
Martin Keown apologized to Ruud Van Nistelrooy for his mischief in the 'battle of Old Trafford'
The Arsenal defender was fined for his animated teasing to Van Nistelrooy full time
The Dutchman lost a last minute penalty for Manchester United, for Keown's joy
“Enchanted to see you after all these years,” Koeown replied. “Sorry for all the pranks that came out in the past.”
Van Nistelrooy was in a good mood and insisted that any pranch of the duo's days should be left in the past.
'What happens in the field remains in the field. I am happy to have it in front of me and not on the back of me. It was a good rivalry, right? Leicester chief asked Keown.
'Oh great days. I'm glad you stand there and not by my side because you loved stamping, 'replied the former center of the Arsenal jokingly.
“I would like to block you too and then fall,” Nistelrooy laughed between teeth.
The tensions during the 'battle of Old Trafford' were fed by an incident before in the game, when Van Nisteloy collided with the captain of the Arsenal Patrick Vieira, which led the French to receive a second yellow card and was expelled.
Arsenal players felt that Nistelrooy Van exaggerated the contact, since Vieira kicked him, but he didn't really make any contact.
After Van Nistelrooy lost his penalty, Keown was the first to face him, and was part of a flock of Arsenal players to make fun of him after full -time whistle.
Keown surrounded Van Nistelrooy full to make fun of him, together with multiple Arsenal players
Van Nistelrooy left the field and did not offer reaction, although the situation intensified
More than 20 years after the incident, they buried the ax and remembered their old rivalry
Lauren, Ray Parlor, Ashley Cole and Kolo Toure joined the former defender of England in Van Nistelrooy.
Keown jumped to Van Nistelrooy and seemed to hit the Dutch on the back with his forearm. Lauren pushed Van Nistelrooy, while Parlor and Cole offered verbal abuse and also pushed him.
The United Leader did not react to chaos and simply moved away, but the situation intensified when the players of both teams met.
Roy Keane escorted Van Nistelrooy away from the situation, but many other United players joined the conflict in his defense.
Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gary Neville, Silvestre Mikael, Quinton Fortune and Rio Ferdinand faced the Arsenal squad.
The melee combat resulted in multiple prohibitions and fines; Keown received a prohibition of three games and a fine of £ 20,000.
Lauren won four games and had to cough £ 40,000, while Parurur and Vieira were also accused of inappropriate behavior and lost a game each.
For United, Giggs received a fine of £ 7,500 and Ronaldo a fine of £ 4,000, along with a warning to worry about his behavior in the future.
There was more full -time chaos, with United players jumping to Van Nistelrooy's defense
Arsenal as a club received a fine of £ 175,000 for “not guaranteeing the proper behavior of its players.”
Ultimately, the rate was a tiny financial setback, since the Gunners were crowned Premier League champions such as the 'invincible' in 2003-04, with £ 17.25 million in prizes.
Now, Van Nistelrooy has changed the maximum fighting for the titles of the Premier League as a player to navigate a fight for survival on the upper flight with Leicester.
His team could leave the descent zone with a victory over Arsenal on Saturday.