Roy Keane didn't hesitate when naming best English atmosphere he played in

Roy Keane didn't hesitate when naming the best English football atmosphere he played in during his career.

Keane spent the formative years of his playing career in the Republic of Ireland, before signing for Nottingham Forest at the age of 18 in 1990.

He left Forest after three seasons following failed contract talks to sign for Manchester United, who nipped in at the last minute to prevent him from signing for Premier League rivals Blackburn Rovers.

Eleven years were spent at Old Trafford before Keane acrimoniously departed by mutual consent in 2005 following the fallout from an interview he conducted with MUTV.

He got to experience the unparalleled atmosphere of an Old Firm derby during the final months of his career after signing for Scottish giants Celtic.

But what was the best away ground he experienced while in English football?

During an interview on The Overlap in 2021, Keane was asked that very question by former United team-mate Gary Neville - and was quick to give his answer.

"The one I enjoyed the most? I used to love Highbury," he said.

"I think our games against Arsenal were pretty good."

The most hostile atmosphere, according to Keane, was at Leeds United's Elland Road, or when United faced away matches in Turkey against Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.

Arsenal had not yet moved to the Emirates Stadium while Keane was at United, with the Gunners officially leaving Highbury at the end of the 2005/06 season.

After most of the stadium was demolished, it was transformed into a luxury apartment complex, though some historic features from Arsenal's history still belong at the site.

Parts of Arsenal's Highbury Stadium remain in place (Image: Getty)

For instance, the East and West Stands remain in place as they are Grade II-listed buildings,

The club's iconic clock, meanwhile, was taken down from the Clock End in August 2006 and transported to the Emirates Stadium, where it was re-unveiled on the outside of the stadium and still stands in the same spot today.

There are a total of 711 flats built on the old Highbury site - which were so in-demand that they were all sold before Arsenal even played their final competitive fixture, against Wigan Athletic, at their old stadium in May 2006.

Thierry Henry visited the site as part of a CBS Sports segment in 2025, while Leah Williamson stood outside the Highbury Square gates for a video announcing her contract extension in 2024.