THE iconic image of the modern day Manchester United-Arsenal rivalry doesn't get as graphic as the Roy Keane-Patrick Vieira's showdowns.

Putting in full-blooded tackles where the faint-hearted dare not venture, getting in each other's faces and plenty of trash-talking, these battles were occasions to relish for both sets of players and fans who could be sure of a pulsating 90 minutes hotter than the gob of Vicks VapoRub on Vieira's jersey.

Traditionally, this fixture has been a banker's bet for serving up a good number of fouls and cautions.

The last four matches before the Champions League semi-final meetings have yielded 21 yellow cards and one red.

But according to Keane, things seemed to have gone off the boil a little. He reckons that the fireworks have turned into damp squibs and the former United skipper is not too pleased about it.

The 37-year-old is not too wide off the mark. With both teams intent on playing beautiful football, the rough and tumble that characterised earlier encounters have seemingly faded into oblivion.

Anderson going in studs first on Abou Diaby? Not a chance.

So, trust Keane to stoke the flames ahead of Arsenal's Champions League clash with United on Thursday morning.

'Too pally-pally,' the firebrand told Mirror Online, as the former United captain tried to reignite the cooling embers of what used to be classics that were so heated they sometimes boiled over.

Off the pitch, it used to be equally oh-so-tantalising.

Remember Pizzagate 2004?

Accusations of vicious fouls, cheating, refereeing mistakes and a disputed penalty followed that confrontation between the two English giants which resulted in a 2-0 victory for Manchester United that ended Arsenal's record unbeaten streak of 49 games in the Premier League.

Post-game spats

The squabbling now is practically gentlemanly, according to Keane, compared to the post-game spats in which players and team officials screamed and scuffled in the stadium tunnel, with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson getting soup and pizza thrown over him in one.

But if Keane's comments are anything to go by, you would be forgiven for thinking that the two sides have already kissed and made up.

The Ipswich boss said: 'As a player, I loved the games against Arsenal but nowadays they are far too pally-pally.

'We need to go back to the old days because those are the games I really miss playing in.

'They were really feisty and brilliant affairs and were the real games for me.'

Which is why Keane has urged Manchester United and Arsenal to abandon their Champions League love-in and get back to the fierce fighting of the good old days.

Reminding the class of 2009 what this fixture really means, Keane fired his final salvo: 'We just didn't like Arsenal. I don't miss playing against Liverpool, Chelsea or Manchester City but I definitely miss taking on Arsenal.

'But United definitely have the edge and I reckon they'll play Chelsea in the final.'

The writer is a freelancer