Manchester United legend Roy Keane has now revealed how he ranks certain former Arsenal stars when compared to one another. 

In his playing days, Roy Keane played against and alongside countless greats of the game. 

He was a talismanic figure for the Red Devils in an era when the Old Trafford club shared a fierce rivalry with Arsenal. 

In seven seasons between 1997/98 and 2003/04, Manchester United claimed four Premier League titles, whilst the other three went the way of the Gunners.

Keane and Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira would often go toe-to-toe in the middle of the park. These duels were titanic clashes between two aggressive, dominant competitors, both at the top of their game. 

Keane recently shared this honest thoughts about Vieira, and it is clear that the former Arsenal captain earned the Irishman’s respect during their aggressive, combative encounters on the pitch. 

The 52-year-old has now given his verdict on a couple of other former Arsenal stars.

Roy Keane picks between Arsenal icons Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie

In a recent video posted to the official ITV Football X account, Keane played a game of ‘Winner Stays On’.

In essence, the former midfield general was presented with two players and asked to name who is better. The one he choose would remain to then be pitted against another contender. 

The first two players put to him were former Arsenal duo Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas. With little hesitation, Keane named Fabregas at the superior player.

The Spanish playmaker was eventually cast against Vieira, at which point Keane sided with his former foe and picked the Frenchman as the better player.

Was Fabregas better than former Arsenal striker van Persie?

Whilst, for various reasons, Arsenal fans have mixed feelings about both Fabregas and van Persie these days, they both played some extraordinary football for the North London club in their time. 

Fabregas remains supportive of Arsenal, and has backed Mikel Arteta to lead the club to greater glory. 

Keane was probably correct to select the 2010 World Cup winner over the Dutch striker, too. After all, Fabregas was incredible from a very young age, as he broke into the Arsenal first-team as a teenager. 

Meanwhile, van Persie had a shorter period at his peak, and whilst he was a devastating striker at his best, his all-round game fell short of Fabregas’.

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