Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy questions Martin Keown's intelligence

It seems the Dutchman is yet to forgive the former Arsenal defender for that incident

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Martin Keown in September 2003 (GETTY IMAGES)

That incident between Ruud van Nistelrooy and Martin Keown might have been 13 years ago, but it seems the former Manchester United striker still holds a grudge against the ex-Arsenal defender.

It was during Arsenal's 'Invincible' season that Van Nistelrooy's penalty miss against the Gunners led Keown and a few of his Arsenal team-mates to jump on and push the Dutchman in celebration. The incident and the intensity of the game which ended 0-0 and allowed Arsenal to continue on their season-long unbeaten run saw the match dubbed the "Battle of Old Trafford".

Van Nistelrooy was reminded of the incident when speaking at the Oxford Union. The Dutchman was informed that his adversary lives in the city and was asked what would have happened had he bumped into him: "He'd probably jump all over me again," quipped for former Netherlands international.

He then added, to much laughter and even a round of applause from the audience: "I thought you had to be clever to live around here."

Keown admitted earlier this year in his regular newspaper column that, upon reflection, "perhaps I overreacted" - however he stopped short of an apology. He explained: "In the little black book of opposition players, Ruud van Nistelrooy was one not to be trusted. He was a top player and a fighter, but he would look for any reason to go down."