Martin Keown apologises to Ruud van Nistelrooy before pre-match interview and it's must-watch viewing

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Martin Keown settled their differences in a slightly awkward, but heartwarming interview ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash between Leicester City and Arsenal.

In the build-up to this weekend's game, Leicester manager Van Nistelrooy said he had never crossed paths with Keown after football – and probably for good reason.

Back in 2003, then-Arsenal defender Keown sparked an infamous brawl at Old Trafford when he celebrated in the face of Manchester United's number 10 after the Dutchman missed a late penalty.

As a result, the Gunners preserved their unbeaten start to the campaign in what would be their invincible year.

In fact, their rivalry goes back to the 2001/02 season, when Van Nistelrooy stood on Keown's foot during a game, which jeopardised his hopes of going to that summer's World Cup with England.

More than two decades later and the pair reunited as the Dutchman spoke to TNT Sports ahead of the clash between Arsenal and Leicester at the King Power.

As you can see from the footage below, Keown was on punditry duty alongside former Chelsea and West Ham midfielder Joe Cole when Van Nistelrooy made his way over to the media area.

Moments later, Keown delivered a line that was years in the making. "Apologies for all the shenanigans that went on back in the day," he said, before Van Nistelrooy played down the incident.

"What happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch," said the former United and Real Madrid forward. "No, it was good, they were good rivalries, weren’t they?"

Keown then replied: "Oh, great days. I’m glad you’re standing there and not next to me because you loved to stamp on me."

Van Nistelrooy, clearly amused by the interaction, hit back by saying: "I would like to block you out as well, and then fall over."

Speaking about the missed penalty, the Leicester manager added: "Back in 2003, I was gutted to miss the penalty. That was the big thing. It was my responsibility to win the game for my team, and I didn’t do that."

He added: "Other than that, I wasn’t really bothered by what happened, as I was only focused on trying to help United win trophies.

"Of course the competition was always fantastic and in 2004, in the same fixture, there was another penalty moment and that for me is what it’s about.

"You step up again and this time you score. You can see in my emotion with the celebration after the second one that it meant a lot to me."

Back in 2022, Keown insisted he had no regrets over the now-infamous incident at Old Trafford.

"I didn’t feel I could trust Van Nistelrooy going into that game at Old Trafford in September 2003," he told the Mail.

"He would collapse at the slightest touch in the box. Ray Parlour years later said that I started the Battle of Old Trafford. I didn’t! I maintain it started when Van Nistelrooy feigned injury, as if Patrick Vieira had kicked him."

Keown added: "Van Nistelrooy instantly became a figure of hate among Arsenal’s players. We felt he had succeeded in cheating to leave us up against it at Old Trafford, one of the most intimidating stadiums in world football at that time.

"I felt like justice had been served and so did my team-mates. Looking back, perhaps we could have toned down our reaction. But it happened in the heat of the moment and I don’t regret anything I did. I certainly don’t hold any malice towards Van Nistelrooy today. What happened, happened."