(aka The Hall of Fame of Hatred)
1. Ruud van Nistelrooy
Crime: Vieira breathes near him, ponytail boy hits the deck like he’s been shot.
The king of the penalty spot and patron saint of feigned injuries. Let’s not sugarcoat it – this man
was enemy number one during the early 2000s.
He baited Vieira. He dived. He missed that penalty in the Battle of Old Trafford and got a
mouthful from Keown, who nearly took flight with rage.
Unforgivable stuff.
Verdict: Serial shithouser. Forever booed.
2. Wayne Rooney
Crime: Dive FC Captain. Looked more like Shrek than Shrek looked like Shrek
He’s the reason the Invincibles run ended. That shameless swan dive in 2004 after Sol
Campbell barely breathed on him? Despicable.
Combine that with his meat-and-potatoes playing style and love for booting people, and he was
tailor-made to wind up Arsenal fans.
Verdict: Cheated history. That alone seals it
3. Gary Neville
Crime: Everything.
Chronic fouler. Anti-Arsenal wind-up merchant. Certified Arsenal hater
Used to treat Reyes (RIP) like a training dummy – and got away with it. Celebrated goals against
Arsenal like he’d won the lottery and punched a Gooner baby in the same minute.
Verdict: The embodiment of United smugness and snideness.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
Crime: Too good, too smug, too shiny.
He ripped Arsenal to shreds in the 2009 Champions League semi-final. The knuckleball
free-kick. The counter-attack goal. It hurt.
The posing. The pouting. The look-at-me celebrations.
Verdict: Talent admired. Ego despised. Personality of a selfie stick.
5. Bruno Fernandes
Crime: Penalty merchant. Whiner-in-chief.
It’s not just the numbers – it’s the constant complaining, the finger-pointing, and the face that
always looks like he’s been fouled by gravity. Captain of the “Ref! Ref! Did you see that?”
brigade.
He plays like a kid who owns the ball and cries if you don’t let him take every shot. Scores a
pen, acts like he cured world hunger.
Verdict: VAR’s favourite son. Arsenal’s least favourite midfielder
Honourable Mentions:
● Roy Keane – A personal feud with Patrick Vieira so intense it needed a documentary
● Darren Fletcher – Played like prime Gattuso only against Arsenal.
● David Beckham – Too much gel. Too many goals.
● Ole Gunnar Solskjær – Smiles like a child. Killed us like a sniper.
