This last Tuesday evening, ITV4 presented an exclusive documentary titled- 'Keane and Vieira: Best of Enemies'. I'm sure that many football fans managed to see it or at least read about it, but if not then I definitely recommend seeking it out, regardless of what team you support. Subsequently, one of the final conversations between these two fierce competitors inspired this article.
As the documentary neared a conclusion, Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane both agreed that the present fixtures between Arsenal and Manchester Utd do not have the same intensity as they had in their own era. It is quite likely that some of this can be attributed to how Arsenal have not been the main challengers to the Red Devils in recent seasons, as Chelsea and Manchester City have stepped into that role instead.
However, this is only part of the theory, and more of the truth may lay in the words of Roy Keane, who says that the two clubs are now 'too nice to each other' and that they have 'too much respect for each other'. The programme itself seemed to encourage a lot of reminiscing, and the 'romantic' notion that Keane versus Vieira is an era that has an edge over the current rivalries.
And whilst both players had several infamous moments on the field, I would have to agree that the Arsenal/Manchester United rivalry of 1998-2005 was something special. Yes both teams were by far and away the dominant forces of that time, but the competition, the absolute drive and obsessive will to win were characteristics that marked them out.
Evidently there is a perfect symmetry in Keane and Vieira, both were captains, both played in central midfield and both were strong with the underlining concern that they may go too far. And yet to see them in this documentary, the overwhelming sense was of a mutual respect. Vieira states that he was not intimidated by Keane, but that he was actually his 'favourite enemy'. Likewise Keane said that it was a 'pleasure and an honour' to play against the Frenchman.
It may be that for some viewers the generally good-natured atmosphere between them was mawkish, but I would say that is nonsense. If anything I feel that their friendly demeanour simply emphasises how much they enjoyed bringing the best out of each other. Similarly, Roy Keane has upset many fans over the years, but this show revealed a newer side to him that enhanced his reputation- as a self-deprecating man with a sarcastically cheeky sense of humour.
Beyond all of this slightly rose-tinted view is the appreciation that great teams not only need to know how to play, but they also require an enforcer in the mould of these two. Just think back to the original generation of Galáticos at Real Madrid, during the tenure of Vicente del Bosque.
The Spain manager forged a superb team that won two Champions League and two La Liga titles in his four years there. And yet whilst Zidane and Figo etc received deserved praise, Claude Makélélé was somewhat disregarded by the hierarchy at the club. Of course del Bosque knew otherwise, which is why Makélélé played almost 150 games during his 3 years with Real Madrid.
Los Blancos inexplicably decided against renewing del Bosque's contract in 2003 and then sold Makélélé during the same summer to a grateful Chelsea. What followed was four trophy-less years, something that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez richly deserved for his ignorance.
There are countless similar examples of great teams that contained a midfielder who not only set up and scored goals, but their priority was to disrupt the opposition and to protect their defence. Look at Graeme Souness, Billy Bremner, Gennaro Gattuso, Lothar Matthäus..... if you take a look at it the list is endless.
Coming back to this current season, the difference between Arsenal and Manchester United has been pretty stark so far. David Moyes may have won the fixture between them at Old Trafford, but overall the league is not looking pretty for his squad. Interestingly one of the common themes in the media has been a focus on the failings of the United midfield, with Tom Cleverley and Marouane Fellaini taking a particular bashing.
Contrast this with Arsenal. Yes the focus has been on the impact of Mesut Özil, but behind all of his trickery has been the tenacity of Mathieu Flamini in his second spell with the Gunners. He is exactly the type of player that opposition fans dislike, because he tends to get a customary yellow card every game and because he is a real pain! However, when you have a player like that in your own team, someone to do all the dirty work, who's vocal and demanding, you know that things are looking up.
The evidence is there to see that for a good football team to become a great one, adding some physical presence can provide that crucial edge that wins games. In an ideal world a midfield enforcer will not get sent off quite as much as Patrick Vieira or Roy Keane did, but then judging by their collective trophy cabinet and their leadership skills- maybe teams need to get a little nastier before they get any better.