Robert Pires enjoyed some famous matches against Manchester United whilst playing for Arsenal over the years.
In total Pires faced Man United 17 times in his career, even if four of those games were whilst he was playing for Marseille and Villarreal.
But in Arsenal colours under Arsene Wenger’s guidance, Pires played 13 matches against United and was only able to win three times.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side appeared to have a number on Pires at the time, and that explains why the Frenchman recently chose a United defender as the toughest player he’s ever faced in his career.
Robert Pires picks his toughest opponent of all-time
Speaking to Optus Sport, Pires was asked if there was any player in his career who he loathed to face, anyone he considered as a ‘nightmare’ opponent.
And the Arsenal legend didn’t really hesitate in saying Gary Neville’s name, perhaps not who many would have imagined.
Pires played in the era of Cafu, Philipp Lahm and Paolo Maldini but he still hated playing against Neville at United the most, admitting that he wasn’t really sure why.
Pires said: “I think he caused me a lot of trouble, it’s Gary Neville, when we played against Man United.
“He was a strict and strong and tough defender, so for me it was very – I don’t know why but it was always difficult to win the game against him, to dribble against him.
“So Gary Neville for me was a nightmare.”
Gary Neville chose a different Arsenal winger as his toughest rival
Speaking on Sky Sports back in 2022 himself, Neville chose a different former Arsenal attacker when considering who he found it hardest to play against.
Neville actually chose Marc Overmars as his toughest opponent of all time, a Dutchman who came before Pires at Highbury.
Explaining his choice, Neville said: “For all the battles against Arsenal over the years, I have to say Overmars. Those battles for four or five years were a massive problem.
“Particularly at Old Trafford, massive pitch, [Emmanuel] Petit dropping in – we saw Petit last week at Crystal Palace, I said to him ‘you kept dropping that ball, just drifting it over my head’ and he’d just be darting inside.”
Two proper Arsenal greats, even if Pires might have slightly pipped what his Dutch counterpart achieved in north London in the end.
That being said, Pires thinks a current Arsenal player is similar to Dennis Bergkamp, comments he made in the same interview.
