Wayne Rooney says his former England team-mate Sol Campbell went six months with out chatting with him after a penalty incident between the pair in Manchester United’s 2-0 win towards Arsenal in the course of the 2004-05 season.
Arsenal, coached by Arsene Wenger, had been Premier League Invincibles the earlier season, however Sir Alex Ferguson’s United snapped their 49-game unbeaten league streak in an ill-tempered victory at Outdated Trafford.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy gave the house facet the lead from the penalty spot, after Rooney went down contained in the field beneath the problem of Arsenal centre-back Campbell.
Rooney, who had joined United from Everton earlier that summer time, then sealed the victory within the 93rd minute – on his nineteenth birthday.
After the sport, a slice of pizza was thrown at Ferguson by then 17-year-old Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas – a chaotic second that may go on to be dubbed because the ‘Pizzagate’.
“It was an enormous sport for Arsenal. If they’d gained it, it was 50 video games unbeaten for them,” stated Rooney, talking on his new
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“We beat them 2-0 and Campbell didn’t converse to me for over six months.
“We met up [during international duty] and Sol will not converse to me. Typically, I used to be with Sol and I might say to him: ‘Come on man, we’re taking part in for England right here’.
“However he would not converse to me as a result of he felt I dived. He left his leg out and I believe there was a small contact.”
Wayne Rooney and Sol Campbell performed collectively for England in 15 video games between 2003 and 2007 [Getty Images]
Matches between Arsenal and Manchester United contained seven purple playing cards between February 1997 and February 2005 as the 2 sides battled repeatedly for main honours.
In 2003-04, Van Nistelrooy was accused by the Arsenal gamers of overreacting and getting Gunners skipper Patrick Vieira dismissed for a second yellow.
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When the Dutch striker then went on to overlook an injury-time penalty within the sport that was billed ‘Battle of Outdated Trafford’, it sparked unsavoury reactions from his opponents – specifically Martin Keown.
The next season Roy Keane and Vieira clashed within the tunnel at Arsenal’s former stadium Highbury, with referee Graham Ballot having to separate the captains.
Reviewing Rooney stated: “Once I joined United, it was the large rivalry we had. I used to like taking part in towards them, nevertheless it has died down a bit bit now.
“I keep in mind my first sport at Highbury for United was the one with Roy and Vieira within the tunnel. You’ll be able to really feel the sport was on a knife-edge and even the referees acquired it.
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“We had the Fabregas one with Ferguson within the tunnel – with him throwing a pizza at [Ferguson]. There have been fights within the tunnel the place everybody was concerned.”
