10 of the biggest fights on the football pitch

#9 Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Arsenal

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Patrick Vieira of Arsenal kicks out at Ruud Van Nistelrooy of Man Utd before being sent off by referee Steve Bennett during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on September 21, 2003 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) — Viera’s tackle on Nistelrooy saw him sent off

Back in the early 2000’s, Manchester United vs Arsenal was one of the most hotly contested affairs in the league, with these matches often deciding where the title would end up, come the end of the season. During the 2003/04 season, these 2 teams met for a match that is now infamously known as ‘the battle of Old Trafford’, with the match marred by various incidents on the pitch.

(Video Courtesy: Man of Tech YouTube Channel)

United committed 13 fouls and Arsenal, 18 with a total of 8 yellow cards handed out – 2 of them to Patrick Viera, who was sent off in the 80^th minute for a kick at Van Nistelrooy. The score was 0-0, but in the final minute, Forlan won a penalty and Nistelrooy stepped up to take it; he thundered his effort onto the crossbar and was mobbed by celebrating Arsenal players as the final whistle went.

With both sides boasting of some ‘tough guys’, a full on scrap was narrowly averted. In the aftermath of the match Lauren, Martin Keown, Viera and Ray Parlour were all banned for a combined 9 games, but the draw enabled Arsenal to go an entire season unbeaten and win the Premier League.