John O’Shea lifts the lid on THAT fiery Highbury tunnel row between Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira… and reveals how ‘clever’ Gary Neville made the Man United captain ‘go into overdrive’ before facing bitter rivals Arsenal
- Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira were involved in a heated tunnel row in 2005
- The ex-Man United captain responded after Vieira argued with Gary Neville
- Manchester United have snakes in the dressing room, players who don't run. Bruce, Robson, Keane would never allow this… It all starts
Former Manchester United star John O'Shea opened up in the infamous Highbury Tunnel row between Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira in 2005 and revealed how 'smart' Gary Neville was in the dressing room before kick-off.
Reigning champions Arsenal and serial Premier League winners Manchester United met at Highbury in February 2005, and the fierce clash was preceded by a tempestuous clash between the two former captains.
The incident sparked when Vieira got into an argument with Keane's teammate Neville, who talked about his altercation with the Arsenal midfielder in the Manchester United dressing room before kick-off.
As the players prepared to take to the pitch, an irate Keane was heard firing expletives and pointing aggressively at the Gunners captain.
O'Shea, now part of Wayne Rooney's coaching staff at Birmingham, has spoken out about the incident and explained how 'clever' Neville managed to elicit the impassioned response from his captain.
John O'Shea opened in 2005 in the Highbury Tunnel between Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira. The ex-Manchester United captain has been pictured firing expletives at the Arsenal star
Keane (right) was furious after Vieira (left) got into an argument with his teammate Gary Neville
“I was sitting on the couch that night,” O'Shea said Off the ball, looking back on the Red Devils' 4-2 victory. 'But the best part was how clever Gary Neville was in the dressing room just before kick-off.
'He happens to say quietly, “Patrick Vieira pinned me down in the tunnel and said I'm going to get him tonight after he kicked (Jose Antonio) Reyes at Old Trafford”.
' Then everyone says, “What, what happened?”, and of course Roy was dead silent. The brain just goes into overdrive and thinks okay, here we go.
“I didn't say a word to anyone, then walked out and did what he did.”
Vieira opened the scoring for Arsenal in the fierce encounter, before Ashley Cole's own goal drew United level.
The Gunners regained their lead before half-time through Dennis Bergkamp, but a quick double from Cristiano Ronaldo early in the second half put the Red Devils ahead 3–2.
Keane and Vieira, who regularly locked horns in midfield, are pictured jostling for the ball at Old Trafford in September 2003, the season before their infamous Highbury tunnel row
O'Shea celebrates after scoring the final goal in Man United's 4-2 win over Arsenal at Highbury
Vieira told Neville before the match that he was 'going to make it' after the former Manchester United right-back delivered a blistering tackle on Jose Antonio Reyes at Old Trafford in 2004.
Mikael Silvestre's red card reduced United to 10 men with just over 20 minutes to play, setting up a thrilling finish before O'Shea teed up Manuel Almunia in the 88th minute to seal the win.
Immediately after the match, Keane was asked about the tunnel break-in.
“I don't want to go into too much detail, but the 6ft 1in Patrick Vieira is starting to battle Gary Neville. I said, “Come and try me.” Simple as that.
“If players want to intimidate some of my teammates, let's have a go with some other players. They think Gary Neville is an easy target. But I don't feel like it.'
