Mutual respect not reflected in colourful history

Mary Hannigan charts the 19 eventful club clashes between two of the world's top midfielders, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira

One was born in Dakar, Senegal in 1976, the other in Cork in 1971. One started out his club career with AS Cannes in France, before moving on to AC Milan, the other with Cobh Ramblers, before joining Nottingham Forest. Markedly different backgrounds, then, but Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane's paths finally crossed in 1997, after they had moved to Arsenal and Manchester United, when they met at Highbury in a league match.

For the next eight years their battles were as "competitive" - and occasionally as ferocious - as the war of words that regularly erupted between their managers. Keane v Vieira, Ferguson v Wenger, United v Arsenal, contests that dominated the Premiership for almost a decade.

For three years running, between 2000 and 2002, Vieira and Keane were named in the PFA Premiership Team of the Season, selected as the best midfielders in the country. Despite their frequent run-ins there has usually been a healthy level of mutual respect between the pair, although that was somewhat jeopardised earlier this year when Keane criticised Vieira for playing for France, despite being born in Senegal. "For someone who leaves his team in the World Cup, I think he should keep this kind of remark to himself," was Vieira's reply. "But it does not take away the respect I have for him as a player," Vieira added.

FEBRUARY 1997 - PREMIERSHIP
Arsenal 1 Manchester Utd 2 (Keane booked)

Keane and Vieira, who joined Arsenal the previous summer, met for the first time in a club match, the Manchester United captain coming out on top - 1-0 to Keane, but there were 18 rounds to come.

AUGUST 1998 - COMMUNITY SHIELD
Arsenal 3 Manchester Utd 0

Keane was substituted after 75 minutes, perhaps having seen enough of the United defence's attempts - notably Jaap Stam's - to deal with Nicolas Anelka.

SEPTEMBER 1998 - PREMIERSHIP
Arsenal 3 Manchester Utd 0 (Keane booked)

Arsenal comprehensively outplayed United again, with Vieira completely dominant in midfield, their outstanding player - Keane was booked and was lucky not to be sent off.

FEBRUARY 1999 - PREMIERSHIP
Manchester Utd 1 Arsenal 1 (Keane and Vieira booked)

The first of many Keane v Vieira epics, this one ending in a draw - the pair were booked after clashing on the halfway line.

APRIL 1999 - FA CUP SEMI-FINAL
Manchester Utd 0 Arsenal 0

Keane had the better of Vieira at Villa Park, also having what looked like a good goal disallowed for offside.

APRIL 1999 - FA CUP SEMI-FINAL REPLAY
Manchester Utd 2 Arsenal 1 (Keane sent off)

The most memorable of games between the teams in the Keane/Vieira era, with Ryan Giggs' extra-time wonder goal putting United through to the final. A night to forget, though, for both captains - Keane was sent off for a second bookable offence and Vieira's wayward pass, which Giggs intercepted, led to the winning goal.

AUGUST 1999 - PREMIERSHIP
Arsenal 1 Manchester Utd 2 (Keane scored twice)

Perhaps Keane's finest ever game against Arsenal in which he completely overshadowed Vieira, scoring twice in the second half. The pair clashed after Vieira fouled Keane, Keane reacting angrily and Vieira shoving his forehead into Keane's - Arsene Wenger, though, denied it was a headbutt, noting that "Roy Keane is not especially an angel either". The incident inevitably led to a melee.

JANUARY 2000 - PREMIERSHIP
Manchester Utd 1 Arsenal 1

Honours even but Vieira and Emmanuel Petit had the better of Keane and Nicky Butt in midfield.

FEBRUARY 2001 - PREMIERSHIP
Manchester Utd 5 Arsenal 1 (Keane scored)

Arsenal and Vieira's most humiliating day against United, finding themselves 5-1 down at half-time, with Keane amongst the scorers. There wasn't much Vieira could do, though, with Arsenal central defender Igors Stepanovs set up most of United's goals.

NOVEMBER 2001 - PREMIERSHIP
Arsenal 3 Manchester Utd 1

It was Vieira's day, with his French team-mate Fabien Barthez Arsenal's star man, gifting Thierry Henry two goals. "Vieira and Keane gave each other less room than a battery chicken and the tackles flew in again and again," as the BBC report at the time put it.

MAY 2002 - PREMIERSHIP
Manchester Utd 0 Arsenal 1 (Keane booked)

Sylvain Wiltord's 57th minute goal sealed the title for Arsenal. Vieira, but Keane wasn't far behind.

FEBRUARY 2003 - FA CUP FIFTH ROUND
Manchester Utd 0 Arsenal 2 (Keane and Vieira booked)

The opening exchanges in this game were so ferocious referee Jeff Winter called Keane and Vieira together to ask them to calm their team-mates. Both agreed, then both went on to be booked.

APRIL 2003 - PREMIERSHIP
Arsenal 2 Manchester Utd 2 (Keane booked)

Another explosive meeting between the teams, but this time it was Sol Campbell at the centre of the controversy, sent off for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Vieira limped out of the game after 34 minutes.

AUGUST 2003 - COMMUNITY SHIELD
Manchester Utd 1 Arsenal 1 (United won 4-3 on penalties, (Vieira booked)

Honours even again between the pair in another, eh, lively encounter during which Francis Jeffers was sent off.

SEPTEMBER 2003 - PREMIERSHIP
Manchester Utd 0 Arsenal 0 (Keane booked, Vieira sent off)

Another rowdy affair between the teams, with Vieira sent off when he picked up his second yellow card of the game for kicking out at Ruud van Nistelrooy - but he accused the striker of conning the referee. Incensed, Vieira confronted van Nistelrooy but Keane intervened and encouraged him to leave the field before he got into more trouble.

MARCH 2004 - PREMIERSHIP
Arsenal 1 Manchester Utd 1

By the time the teams met at Highbury Arsenal effectively had the league wrapped up, going on to finish 15 points clear of United. "Won't you say hello Roy? Oh come on, not even a smile," said Vieira when the captains met in the tunnel. "If we were 12 points ahead then I'd have something to smile about," replied Keane. But, much to his amusement, Vieira got a smile out of his old adversary.

APRIL 2004 - FA CUP SEMI-FINAL
Manchester Utd 1 Arsenal 0

Keane shaded this one over Vieira who spent much of the game arguing with the referee - Paul Scholes' goal ended Arsenal's hopes of the treble and a third successive FA Cup triumph.

FEBRUARY 2005 - PREMIERSHIP
Arsenal 2, Manchester United 4 (Vieira scored)

Another spat between Vieira and Keane, but this time before the game even got started. The pair clashed in the tunnel, with Keane confronting Vieira after the Arsenal captain had had a run-in with Gary Neville. Pleasantries were exchanged, players and officials stepped in to separate the pair, with Keane's final words along the lines of: "by the way, if you were that good you'd be playing for Real Madrid".

MAY 2005 - FA CUP FINAL
Arsenal 0 Manchester Utd 0 (Arsenal won 5-4 on penalties, Vieira booked)

This was the 19th time the pair met in a United v Arsenal game, the eighth time they had drawn. Keane was on the winning side in six of the meetings, Vieira's Arsenal won five of the games. Keane picked up seven bookings and one red card in the 19 games, Vieira four yellows and one red.