(aka The Hall of Fame of Hatred)
By the Arsenal Addict
1. Ruud van Nistelrooy
Crime: Vieira breathes near him, ponytail boy hits the deck like he’s been shot.
The most hated Manchester United players start with Ruud van Nistelrooy. Crime: Vieira breathes near him, and ponytail boy hits the deck like he’s been shot.
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.
Jesse Lingard – Moonwalked on the hallowed Emirates turf. Moon. Walked.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær – Smiles like a child. Killed us like a sniper.
