“It was tough playing against this Man Utd legend. I hated him” – Arsenal legend Ian Wright admits

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has named Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel as the best goalkeeper he played against during his playing career. 

Wright made over 500 appearances during his 15 years as a professional player after joining the Gunners from Crystal Palace in 1991 for a then club record fee of £2.5m.

The former England international went on to score 185 goals in 288 appearances for the Gunners – the second highest number in the club’s history behind Thierry Henry, who bagged 228 goals in 377 matches. 

Despite his successful career, Wright admits he found it particularly tough playing against former Red devils goalie Schmeichel.

“Schmeichel was tough, very tough. To the point where we were driven by a hatred of each other,” Wright said on Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster’s podcast, ‘Fozcast’.

“I scored a great goal against him in the Community Shield [in 1993] and he always says ‘yea it doesn’t really count’, but it does count towards the tally. 

“And I scored a couple of penalties against him in South Africa and stuff like that but he was somebody that when I went on the pitch, and I think it played in my detriment, I played into his hands, I wanted to score too much.

“What I should done is backed off it, I can finish, play my game and I got wrapped up in wanting to score and to tease him with it.”