Anelka calls Arsenal’s hero “quick, strong and dirty” as his “toughest” opponent

Nicolas Anelka has named former Arsenal central defender Martin Keown as the “toughest” defender he has faced during his career.

The former Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid striker had spells in France, England, Spain, Turkey, Italy, China and India during a brilliant career and faced some of the best defenders of the planet.

He entered the scene as a teenager with Arsenal, winning the Premier League alongside Keown in the 1997/98 season.

Keown would not hold back in training and Anelka found him the toughest opponent to play when they crossed paths later in their career.

“I think Martin Keown was the toughest,” Anelka told Bolton Wanderer’s website in a question and answer session. ‘It was fast, strong and dirty.

‘I liked playing against him in training because I knew it was just like a game situation.

‘It helped me a lot to adapt to English football, together with Tony Adams and Steve Bould.

“Of course, it was a war every time I played against him when I was facing Arsenal.”

As for the best player he has played with, Anelka has no doubts.

‘Only a player that I can say as an answer to this question. Ronaldo – El Phenomeno “, he added.

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