Cristiano Ronaldo. Thierry Henry. Ronaldo Nazario. Zinedine Zidane. Rivaldo.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown examined himself towards a few of soccer’s best ever gamers throughout his 21-year skilled profession.
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Throughout his spell with the Gunners, Keown skilled first hand the silky expertise that Manchester United icon Ronaldo needed to supply.
He performed towards him throughout the notorious Battle of Previous Trafford conflict in September 2003, which noticed the Portugal worldwide depart Ashley Cole with egg on his face.
Whereas he shared the pitch with Rivaldo on 4 events – twice for Arsenal towards Barcelona within the Champions League – in addition to twice for England towards Brazil in worldwide friendlies.
The 1997 pleasant additionally noticed Keown tasked with maintaining Ronaldo Nazario quiet – in addition to 1994 Ballon d’Or winner Romario.
Zidane was twice Keown’s nemesis throughout France vs England battles, with the 2000 pleasant seeing the defender face Arsenal teammate Henry.
Nonetheless, none of these 5 gamers left him in awe like Tottenham Hotspur cult hero Chris Waddle.
Talking to talkSPORT.com, Keown was requested whether or not there was a specific second from his profession {that a} rival participant left him in awe.
And with out hesitating, his thoughts flashed to an encounter towards Waddle in March 1989 at White Hart Lane throughout his third and last season at Aston Villa.
Waddle scored each targets in Spurs’ 2-0 win, discovering the again of the web in both half.
His opener within the twenty third minute noticed Waddle race onto a by ball on the sting of the field, earlier than jinxing previous Keown the place he then rifled his shot into the roof of the web.
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And his second was a factor of magnificence, as he flicked the ball over Keown, earlier than unleashing a surprising volley into the highest proper nook.
Commenting on who the footballer that left him starstruck on the pitch, Keown mentioned: “Are you aware what? It occurred greater than as soon as!
“However one which sticks in my thoughts was enjoying towards Chris Waddle for Spurs vs Villa.
“It was a midweek recreation and I went to press him on the sting of the field.
“And I acquired as tight as I might and he simply hit it spherical me.
“And once I appeared, it went over, he is a left-footed participant, it went over my left shoulder.
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“And once I appeared within the objective, it was within the right-hand aspect of the objective.
“It was like unbelievable, like a banana shot that he hit spherical me.
“So respect to him, he was a handful.
“And he most likely would not get the credit score he deserves, prime participant.”
Waddle spent 4 seasons at Spurs, the place he scored 42 targets in 173 matches in all competitions, which earned him a transfer to French giants Marseille.
He proved to be nothing wanting sensational throughout his three years at Stade Velodrome – profitable three consecutive Ligue 1 titles having banged in 29 targets from 149 outings.
His dazzling shows noticed him named voted by followers because the membership’s second finest participant of their first 100 years of existence, behind Jean-Pierre Papin.
Affectionately dubbed as ‘Magic Chris’, he definitely showcased his wizardry to Keown in a match he has by no means forgotten.
