MATT LE TISSIER has revealed which former Arsenal star was the “most annoying” defender he played against.
The retired Southampton legend has recalled one ex-Gunner that would do everything he could to try and wind him up.
Le Tissier was known for his spectacular goals and moments of magic, but one Arsenal Invincible would make sure that the attacking midfielder couldn’t play his usual game.
The Saints icon revealed on Football’s Greatest with Jeff Stelling that Martin Keown would always get on his nerves when the pair came face-to-face.
He said: “He was probably the most annoying defender that I played against.
“The ball could be 50 yards away and Martin would be right up behind me, pinching me, deliberately standing on my toes with his studs.
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“And it would just become a fight whenever we played each other.”
Le Tissier went on to explain that the pair wouldn’t even trade niceties and instead would only speak to give each other abuse during matches.
He added: “Martin wasn’t one of those blokes you could have a conversation with.
“I mean, if I spoke to him it was just to abuse him really, because he was being an idiot.
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“And honestly when we played against each other both of us used to end up getting yellow cards because we would just be fighting each other when the ball was 40 yards away.”
Keown was no stranger to winding up an opponent or getting physical with the three-time Premier League champion seeing red SIX times during his career in England’s top flight.
The defender was famously slapped with a three-match ban and fined £20,000 for his antics during the battle of Old Trafford in 2003.
Keown, alongside teammates such as Patrick Vieira and Ray Parlour, were punished for getting in the face of Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy after he missed a penalty during a 0-0 draw.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
