EXCLUSIVE: Martin Keown reveals he had a ‘little book’ and knew which opposition players would ‘crumble’ against his dark arts – and explains how he once managed to get ‘naive’ Francesco Totti sent off

• Martin Keown was one of the best defenders of his era for Arsenal and England
• He was also an extremely tough customer and regularly engaged in the dark arts
• Click here to watch the IAKO Battle of Old Trafford YouTube Special from the Mail Sport Studios 
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here 

Martin Keown has opened up on the dark arts of football in a special episode of Mail Sport’s podcast, It’s All Kicking Off.

Keown was known as one of the best defenders of his era and spent more than a decade with Arsenal where he won three Premier League titles.

He developed a formidable partnership at the back with Gunners legend Tony Adams and also represented England at four major tournaments.

The 57-year-old was an extremely tough customer and regularly engaged in physical battles with opponents, with none more famous than the Battle of Old Trafford in 2003 when he locked horns with Ruud van Nistelrooy.

And, speaking with Mail Sport football editor Ian Ladyman and columnist Chris Sutton, Keown explained the reason behind his tough approach to the game.

Martin Keown hsa explained the reasons behind his tough, no-nonsense approach to the game

Keown was one of the best defenders of his era and became known for his tough approach

https://youtube.com/watch?v=8r_PC0-Jb5k%3Frel%3D0

‘I was a contact defender so I was going to make that first contact and it was about winning that battle,’ he said.

‘It’s a shame we don’t ever see a montage of clearances, headers and tackles but 90 per cent of players I played against were rattled by it (the dark arts).

‘I had a little book and I knew which characters would just crumble. Some were really up for it, like Mark Hughes, who was brilliant because you could clout him, hit him and he would stand there.

‘And he wasn’t going to fall over like perhaps Ruud van Nistelrooy did, but I preferred a player who would stand up and be physical.

‘In my early days I was up against the likes of Mick Harford who would just try to beat you up. I didn’t pinch him, the fire was already there.

‘But I enjoyed those battles and I would like to think I came out on top of most of them.’

Keown also explained how he would take the physical battle to the likes of Ian Wright, Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry in training, which he felt benefitted their games.

However, some players didn’t respond as well, and the former Arsenal defender remarked how he managed to get under the skin of one famous Italian star in March 2003.

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Keown regularly engaged in battles with opponents, with none more famous than his clash with Ruud van Nistelrooy during the Battle of Old Trafford against Man United in 2003

The ex-Arsenal defender also explained how he once managed to get Francesco Totti sent off

He added: ‘I played against (Francesco) Totti in a Champions League game and I couldn’t believe how naive he was.

‘He elbowed me within the first 30 seconds and he was off the pitch within 20 minutes because he reacted and got sent off.

‘They were better with 10 men (the game finished 1-1) so it turned out to be a mistake, but it’s interesting to test strikers. ‘

‘These are the dark arts a little bit, but there’s a lot more to it than the odd pinch – it’s about being physical.’

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

Your browser does not support iframes.

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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