Arsenal icon Robert Pires lifts lid on hardest Man Utd opponent – ‘He would insult me’

Mikel Arteta after Arsenal's 2-0 win against Newcastle

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Arsenal legend Robert Pires became one of the club’s best players when he joined in 2000. One of the ‘French Revolution’ stars of Arsene Wenger’s reign, he won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups before leaving for Villarreal – however, his poor record against Manchester United always showed. And in a telling interview, the winger has put this partly down to Gary Neville.

Pires joined Arsenal as a 26-year-old from Marseille for £6million despite registering just two goals for Les Olympiens the season prior.

Having shone at FC Metz as a teen, Pires’ exploits on the continental stage finally led to Arsenal boss Wenger making his signing at the turn of the millennium.

His dazzling performances caught the eye of the world, with the silky star notching 62 league goals in just 189 league games in his time at Highbury.

Arsenal won two league titles in his six-year period at the club, with United and Chelsea sharing the spoils with two apiece in that time.

JUST IN: Robert Lewandowski’s reaction after Lionel Messi beats him to Ballon d’Or in second snub

But it could have been more had Pires shaken off the ghost of United – and in particular Neville, who he claims used to insult him psychologically to throw him off track.

“My record against them is catastrophic and I know it,” Pires told the Times.

“My friend Gary Neville. Psychologically, he was always on top of me. He would talk to me all the time, he’d insult me all the time.

“It was in English, so I didn’t understand anything, but I knew they weren’t nice words. He was always talking to me, always barging me, always looking for me.

MORE PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS…
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe receives transfer promise from club board
Man City’s Guardiola discussed two stars in ‘dinner’ with Barca reps
Ralf Rangnick comment made by Ralph Hasenhuttl may worry Man Utd fans

“He knew how to unsettle me. And unfortunately, he won. I had run-ins with him, with Wayne Rooney, all the time.”

The plan seemed to have worked for Neville, with Pires only winning two of the 13 battles he played against United.

And this could be what led to Sir Alex Ferguson’s continued dominance over Wenger towards the end of their spells.

Pires was speaking ahead of Arsenal’s clash with United on Thursday.

Arsenal sit five points ahead of their opponents in fifth, despite having lost their first three games of the season.

Meanwhile United are on a different trajectory, having won just one of their last eight league games and have slipped to eighth in the table.

And the gap could widen to eight points if Arsenal emerge victorious at Old Trafford.

Source: Read Full Article