Gunners will meet fire with fire, Vieira warns United
Vieira’s fiery on-pitch confrontations with Keane were replicated in the tunnel before February’s encounter at Highbury.
Live on television as the teams lined up, Keane took Vieira to task for trying to intimidate Gary Neville by stepping into their row and telling him to “have a go at me” instead.
The two players had to be separated by referee Graham Poll, with the bad blood continuing out on the pitch as Arsenal were defeated 4-2.
The war of words has since been renewed, with Keane questioning Vieira for not representing Senegal and Vieira accusing Keane of letting down his team-mates by walking out on the Republic of Ireland before the 2002 World Cup.
There is, therefore, likely to be an atmosphere in the Millennium Stadium tunnel on Saturday ahead of the FA Cup final as the two captains line up alongside each other.
However, Vieira insisted: “I’m ready for anything. Would I mind if he said anything else to me? I wouldn’t mind at all. We will just see what happens.
“You always enjoy playing against the big players. He’s one of the big players in this country, but Steven Gerrard is also at the same level and there are a few players who are quite strong.”
Relations between the two captains have been soured, having previously held each other in genuine high esteem amid their battles on the pitch. Vieira is nevertheless determined to ensure Arsenal are not muscled out of the final, as they have been in the past against United. He therefore backed Jose Antonio Reyes, whose starting place has been confirmed by Arsene Wenger in the definite absence of Thierry Henry, to cope with United’s renewed close physical attention.
“Jose is ready for this game. It was his first season in the Premiership and he learned a lot from that. He can’t wait to play in this game,” said Vieira. The Frenchman warns United to expect to face an Arsenal side who are determined to scrap for the right to play their own expansive game. “I think we’ll respond and we have a good answer as we’re not afraid of playing against Manchester United.”
Vieira has also pledged his future to Arsenal, insisting this summer would not be dominated by another transfer saga linking him with Real Madrid. Vieira came close to joining Real last summer only to change his mind at the last minute, when even Arsene Wenger was expecting him to leave.
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