Arsenal's Patrick Vieira will walk out at Old Trafford tonight relishing the prospect of his latest duel with Manchester United captain Roy Keane.

Sparks often fly when the pair, perhaps the best two central midfielders in the Premiership, cross swords.

The contest is not one for the fainthearted, but Arsenal's French international Vieira insists it is just such a full-blooded confrontation which makes him revel in the English game.

He said: "I love the battles with Roy Keane. He is a fantastic player and we both want to win. But afterwards, no problem.

"The great thing about English football is that it is honest. It is very competitive but at the end you shake hands," he said on Arsenal's official website.

Keane took the honours on their last meeting, scoring two goals in United's 2-1 victory at Highbury in August.

The match was also memorable for Vieira appearing to clash heads with Keane, though he escaped any action from the referee.

The following month Vieira found himself in hot water with the Football Association after spitting at West Ham's Neil Ruddock, and a six-match ban followed.