Keane blames Vieira for tunnel row

Roy Keane has condemned Patrick Vieira for sparking a snarling tunnel feud prior to Manchester United's 4-2 win over Arsenal at Highbury.

TV cameras showed Keane verbally attacking the Gunners skipper before the teams entered the field, retribution, the Irishman claimed, for Vieira's attempt to intimidate Gary Neville as the teams emerged from the dressing rooms.

"Patrick Vieira is six foot four inches and he is having a go at Gary," Keane said.

"I just told him 'come and have a go at me', it's as simple as that. If he wants to intimidate our players, Gary Neville is an easy target. I am not having it."

The incident lit the touchpaper for another combustible meeting between the dominant Premiership clubs over the past decade, only increasing the ill-feeling that exists between managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, even if Vieira denied causing it.

"I didn't threaten anybody," said the Frenchman.

"I had a talk with Roy Keane and that is it. Gary Neville is a big lad and he can handle himself. They just played better than us and deserved to win."

The incident, plus a series of on-field spats, helped overshadow a momentous win for the visitors, which maintains their pursuit of Chelsea while at the same time ending Arsenal's lingering hopes of retaining their crown.

And for Ferguson, whose side were recording their fifth win in six encounters with the Londoners, it was a very rewarding triumph indeed.

"I am very proud of my team," purred the Scot.

"This is not an easy place to come, as Arsenal's home record suggests, but we have produced a performance of courage, determination and a dogged will to win.

"There are no wimps in my team and that showed itself tonight in a fantastic performance."

Ferguson admitted he feared the worst when his team fell 2-1 behind at the break but a quick-fire brace from Cristiano Ronaldo, followed by a match-sealing strike from John O'Shea gave United their first Highbury win since 1999.

They have briefly reduced the gap on Chelsea to eight points, so the only sour note of the evening was the inexplicable second-half dismissal of Mikael Silvestre for headbutting Freddie Ljungberg.

"I have seen it but I can't believe it," said Ferguson.

"Mikael has such an impeccable disciplinary record, yet he has got himself sucked in. There is no doubt he deserved to be sent off."