MARTIN KEOWN

i WAs preparing for Match of the Day when news reached the studio that sir Alex Ferguson had been taken ill. it had been a day of huge drama at the foot of the Premier League but none of that mattered. Our thoughts were only with sir Alex and his family. he was Arsenal’s biggest adversary when we were battling Manchester United for Premier League titles. Never mind their great players such as David Beckham and Ryan Giggs — when you played United, it felt like you were taking on Ferguson. sir Alex was effectively their 12th man on the pitch. such was his influence on referees that it was always in the back of my mind that i should try to usher him away in the tunnel should he approach the officials at half-time. he was hell-bent on winning yet still took the time to come into our dressing room and congratulate us after we won the title at Old Trafford in 2002 — even though he must have been hurting. i have the utmost respect for sir Alex. he is the ultimate fighter and i wish him all the best in his recovery.