EXCLUSIVE
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has lifted the lid on a secret tiff with Andy Gray, which made itself known during the famous 'Battle of Old Trafford' against Manchester United.
The pair were teammates together at Aston Villa when Keown signed for the Midlands club from Arsenal in 1986.
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Keown was just 19 at the time but his relationship with the then 31-year-old Gray quickly diminished.
Ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Arsenal on Sunday, Keown was reminded of his infamous feud with Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2003.
Keown appeared to antagonise the United striker following his last-gasp penalty miss in a goalless draw between the sides during the Gunners' Invincible season.
The conflict has since become one of the Premier League’s iconic moments, with White and Jordan playing a clip of the scenes on Friday's show.
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A soundbite of Gray’s Sky Sports commentary from the game was played back to Keown, sparking the former Gunner to open up on the pair’s relationship.
Watching the clash between Keown and Van Nistelrooy, Gray said at the time: “Martin Keown was in his face right after he missed the penalty... he's spiky at the best of times, Martin."
Responding to Gray’s commentary, Keown explained: “There was history there, by the way, with Andy Gray. We didn’t get on as players at Aston Villa.
“He was a player who had a lot to say. I was a young impetuous individual and if he was giving advice he shouldn’t have done it in the spare of the moment.
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“He should have taken me to one side. He never did that.”
Keown continued: “Every time he did a commentary, my father used to say, 'Don’t listen to it because the guy’s got something against you'.
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“So when Andy puts his foot in, and I gave him every opportunity to berate me in some way, but he enjoyed putting his foot in."
Asked by Jim if he feels commentators were against him in those days, Keown replied: "I'm just telling you my opinion of Andy Gray and his slighted version of me every time he commentated on me.
“He was reluctantly giving me credit if I did anything [good]. But I didn’t listen to it, I didn’t even have Sky!
“I thought, 'I don’t need to listen to it. I’ll listen to Match of the Day instead'."
