TV View: "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value . . . he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."

At which point Cristiano Ronaldo looked at Roy Keane and said, "Jaysus Roy, it's only a league game at Highbury of a Tuesday night."

Which, of course, just showed how little Cristiano understood about the nature of this fixture.

But this, as we all know, wasn't really about two teams and 90 minutes of football: this was about two managers. On the one side, a temperamental, irrational, paranoid, volatile, irritable and prickly character: on the other, Alex Ferguson.

Both had asked their supporters to stay calm before the game, to which the fans were entitled to reply: "Would ya listen!"

When the latter arrived at Highbury he was given a warm welcome. "You **** **** ***** ** *** ****," was the gist of the natives' affectionate greeting. Alex smiled and waved back.

A balmy welcome for Wayne Rooney, too ("you fat bastard"), not to mention young Ronaldo ("cheat, cheat, cheat"). All set.

Richard Keyes welcomed Tony Adams and Teddy Sheringham as Sky Sports' expert pundits for the evening.

"Chelsea 'ave really frown sumfing else in to the equation," said Tone.

Teddy agreed, describing their football as "lovely jubly", or sumfing like that. Richard looked at us. We looked at Richard. Neither of us said nuffin'.

Richard speculated that Keane might be up for the game. Perhaps so up for it that he might be unapproachable, in a chatty, sociable kind of way. "At what stage pre-match, Teddy," he asked, "do you know it's time to leave Roy Keane alone?

"Before a Saturday game?" asked Teddy. "Probably Monday mawnin'."

Richard laughed. Teddy, Keane's ex-team-mate, didn't.

Match commentator? Ian Darke. Whatever happened to Martin Tyler? We know Iano better as a boxing commentator. Oh! Right! Sky expecting a rumble in the Highbury jungle?

Well . . . Patrick Vieira and Keane square up. The referee leaps in to separate them. Ugly words exchanged. And that was in the tunnel.

Kick-off. In an attempt to help him regain his composure after Tunnelgate, United allow Vieira score in the eighth minute. And then Giggs equalises. So, 1-1.

Possession: Arsenal 50 per cent, United 50 per cent. In anyone's book that's quite an even contest.

But then, in the 36th minute, eager to help him win a new contract for next season, Roy Carroll allows Dennis Bergkamp place the ball between his legs. 2-1.

Second half. You'll hardly believe it: Ronaldo scores twice.

But then Mikael Silvestre decides it's far too uneven a contest, aims a head-butt at Freddie Ljungberg, and graciously accepts the referee's red card. Game on.

But United, a man down, but a John O'Shea up, make it 4-2. Full-time.

"No doubt," Keane says to Ronaldo in the changing rooms, "there are other important things in life besides conflict, but there are not many other things so inevitably interesting. The very saints interest us most when we think of them as engaged in a conflict with the Devil. Ya boy ya."