the Rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal were big from the mid 90’s and up to the middle of the new millennium, where the two clubs shared nine championships between them from 1996-2004.
It often struck sparks in the clubs ‘ meetings. So much so that one of Manchester United’s greats profiles, in no way, cared about his colleagues from London.
Ryan Giggs does not in the least hide the fact that Arsenal’s then midtbanegeneral Patrick Vieira was not waliserens cup of tea.
– I did not like the Arsenal. I did not like Vieira, because he was dirty and got away with murder, he says in a major interview with the Daily Mail in the occasion of the 20 anniversary of Manchester United’s famous Treble season in 1999.
Giggs of course, refers to the frenchman’s uncompromising style of play, however despite the total cost Vieira eight expulsions and 76 yellow cards in 307 Premier League matches for Arsenal and Manchester City.
he got off not. And he is, after all, might not be gotten away with murder in the literal sense.
Patrick Vieira was, however, not the only one from Arsenal’s golden generation, which annoyed Ryan Giggs.
– I did not like the Petit, because he had long hair. I didn’t like Bergkamp. I didn’t like Pires, even though he actually is really nice, when I meet him now. I would not even look at them. I knew them not and had no desire for it. I did not allow myself to count any of them for anything.
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French Emmanuel Petit’s long locks was not something Ryan Giggs broke. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix
United took care of six English championships, while Arsenal had to settle for three in the nine seasons where no other clubs came to the dish.
But it is actually in a completely different tournament, that Ryan Giggs will be remembered for a very special action against Arsenal. It is crucial solomål in the FA Cup semi-final in 1999, which was to ensure Manchester United the famous ‘The Treble’.
United and Arsenal played in the first game of the tie, and therefore should omkampen played three days later at Villa Park in Birmingham.
the match ended in a draw, but with 11 minutes left of the extended playing time took Giggs victory in his own hand. The welshman intercepted the ball in his own half and afdriblede three Arsenal players before he smashed the ball up in the nettaget behind a quit David Seaman.
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Tony Adams came too late to be able to block Giggs’ end. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix
And so could the welshman otherwise cheer of one of English football’s most famous scores in recent times. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix
I continued to throw the ball away. So I went back to my instinct. I ran. At the time, I think, and the goal was ok. Only later it dawned on me how far back I was when I got the ball, he says to the Daily Mail, and remember back on what met him in the locker room.
– Roy Keane sat in the locker room, when I came in. He said, ‘here he is, our fucking saviour’.
– The other boys cheered, because it gave us the victory. Not because it was a drømmemål.
20 years after he is still faced with the scoring at Villa Park.
– United-fans tell me that the goal of the evening was the best they have ever seen. Arsenal fans say they still haven’t forgiven me, he says.
Ryan Giggs reached 632 Premier League matches, with 109 goals, before he stopped his active career in 2014.
today, he is the national coach for Wales and has in the past been the temporary manager and assistant at Manchester United.
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