Topics: Roy Keane, Arsenal, Manchester United, Premier League, Martin Odegaard, Aaron Ramsdale, Theo Walcott, Mikel Arteta, Erik Ten Hag
Roy Keane has taken a swipe at Arsenal and Manchester United players after images of their tunnel antics were broadcasted on Sky Sports.
On Sunday, Erik ten Hag’s side travelled down to North London to come up against the Gunners for the first time this Premier League season.
In the 27th minute, Marcus Rashford opened the proceedings after the team successfully capitalised on a blunder made by Arsenal’s Kai Havertz. The 25-year-old received the ball from Christian Eriksen before firing his shot off the far post and into the back of the goal.
However, celebrations were cut short as Martin Odegaard levelled the playing field immediately. He rocketed the ball into the bottom-right-hand corner of Andre Onana’s net to make it 1-1.
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In the 88th minute, 19-year-old Alejandro Garnacho put the ball past Aaron Ramsdale and looked as if he had won the game for United. However, VAR eventually ruled the strike offside and thus gave the Gunners a lifeline.
Capitalising on the chance, Arsenal went 2-1 up in the sixth minute of extra time as Declan Rice scored after receiving a deep delivery from Bukayo Saka.
Gabriel Jesus then sealed the deal and snatched a 3-1 victory for Mikel Arteta's team in the 11th added minute.
However, prior to the match getting underway, ex-United star Roy Keane had some choice words to say about how the players were treating each other in the Emirates tunnel.
In footage broadcast by Sky Sports, goalkeepers Aaron Ramsdale and Onana were seen conversing with one another, while Odegaard and new United signing Sergio Reguilon were seen embracing.
After viewing the footage, Keane said that in his day: "You were going to war, you were going to battle. That was what it was about.
“I am looking at the tunnel there, everyone thinks I am old school but I don't know why you'd be chatting to people you are just about to go into battle against. You are going to be kicking lumps out of each other.
"Why are you shaking hands? I'd shake hands after the game but not before the battle. Maybe these younger lads will educate me,” the 52-year-old concluded.
However, Keane wasn’t the only pundit to be unimpressed with the affectionate tunnel atmosphere.
Former Gunner Theo Walcott backed up his co-host’s claims and stated that he would never have been involved in such scenes.
"I was never into it,” the 34-year-old stated. “Maybe the goalkeeper side of things but no, I wouldn't do that.”
While the stars agreed that friendly chitchat in the tunnel definitely wasn’t their thing, the pair have recently clashed with opinions involving both teams.
Prior to the Arsenal vs United game kicking off, Keane and Walcott were joined by Micah Richards and discussed which side could be considered the ‘biggest’ team.
In a video shot by Richards for Sky Sports, Walcott said: “Arsenal finished above United so if you’re going right now, for me, I would have to say them. I feel like they’re a bit more organised.”
The Irish international obviously thought that his companion was wrong and decided to put a hand on his shoulder.
“So naive and young, huh?” Keane laughed before making it abundantly clear that he believed United to be the ‘bigger club’.
