Ruud van Nistelrooy: 'Arsenal were obsessed with me and Manchester United'

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has suggested that the club's rivals Arsenal were obsessed with him and United when he was playing in England.

During the Dutchman's time at Old Trafford, the two clubs clashed on several occasions, most notably when Martin Keown, Lauren, Ray Parlour and Patrick Vieira all received bans after clashes on the pitch as Van Nistelrooy missed a last-minute penalty against the Gunners in 2003.

The 39-year-old striker said that Arsene Wenger's side were "obsessed" with Sir Alex Ferguson's team at the time, but admitted that he misses the rivalry between the two clubs.

"That game was incredible," he told reporters. "It was this unbeaten Arsenal side, a last-minute penalty, and I hit the bar. Then it went crazy, loads happened.

"The truth is that I was not aware because I was so gutted about missing the penalty. I could not care less what they were doing. I was in shock, thinking: 'I missed, I missed'. Patrick Vieira was sent off, he was waiting in the tunnel, but I could not care less. I walked past him.

"I think Arsenal were a little obsessed with United at the time, and with me. I was never as involved with them as they were with me. There was always big build-up and media talk, but on the pitch I usually kept my calm. I do not have a problem with them. I miss the rivalry, of course."

Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in 219 games over the course of five seasons at United before leaving for Real Madrid in 2006.