10 Hardest Men That Ever Played For Arsenal

3. Martin Keown

John Walton/EMPICS SportJohn Walton/EMPICS SportIn at number three on this countdown is Martin Keown. He is without doubt the toughest player to represent Arsenal during Arsene Wenger€™s tenure, a reputation he earned over several years at the top level. Like Ray Parlour, Keown was involved in the post-match brawl with Ruud van Nistelrooy after the striker missed that now infamous penalty. Keown was very much the igniter of the situation, clocking the Manchester United star right on the back of the head as he jumped for joy at the Dutchman€™s penalty miss. Such an action was typical of Keown€™s ways, he loved the physical side of the game and was often prone to the red mist descending. Keown was so renowned for his hardman ways that he once guest starred on an episode of the TV show Renford Rejects! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYjSeK9nB18 In it, he acted as himself, but instead of promoting his tough-tackling ways, he wanted players to express themselves with tricks and flicks. Not quite an honest portrayal of the real Keown€
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Simon is an NCTJ qualified sports journalist. He has conducted interviews with Tony Adams and Peter Shilton, while also having work published in The Daily Telegraph and The Sun. Follow him on Twitter via @sr_collings.