Invincible Lauren has no regrets over Van Nistelrooy bust-up, was surprised Arsenal sold him and thinks Edu deserves plaudits

Lauren won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups with Arsenal, and was a vital part of the Invincibles squad that went through the 2003-4 season unbeaten.

In the second part of an exclusive interview with Ladbrokes: Fanzone, the former Gunners right-back talked about Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and his two favourite games, but he started with his memories of that notorious day at Old Trafford in 2003 for which he was handed a four-match ban.

Click on the link for part one in which the Cameroonian discussed Arsenal’s current season and gave his thoughts on Tottenham’s top-four hopes.

No regrets over Van Nistelrooy bust-up and I would do it again

What happened with Ruud van Nistelrooy during the game at Old Trafford is not the best example for kids, but it wasn’t just about that game, it was about many games we played against United and the fact that we were the best team that season. I have no regrets at all.

ON THIS DAY: In 2003, The Battle of Old Trafford.

Arsenal: £175,000 fine
Lauren: 4-game ban, £40,000
Keown: 3-game ban, £30,000
Vieira: 1-game ban, £20,000
Parlour: 1-game ban, £10,000
Cole: £10,000
Giggs: £7,500
Ronaldo: £4,000

But Arsenal's unbeaten run stayed intact. 😏

— Squawka (@Squawka) September 21, 2022

It’s passion. You want to win against your best opponent with top players on the pitch who are looking to be the best in Premier League history, so I have no regrets at all.

I have always protected the people I care about and I am always prepared to protect the people I was working with, people I love, and that was that dressing room for me.

I was surprised the club sold me to Portsmouth

I wanted to stay at Arsenal and I thought I was going to stay longer as it was decided I was going to play against Liverpool in the League Cup, but that game never happened.

I wanted to play at the Emirates, and I felt ready to play at the Emirates, so I was surprised that the club didn’t think this and by their decision in the end to let me go.

But I respect the owners at this fantastic institution because I have been treated fantastically well since minute one, firstly with David Dein at his house when I signed my contract, but everyone really, they all treated me so well. It’s a fantastic place.

Patrick Vieira is doing a great job, but coaching isn’t for me

I like Patrick Vieira and he has been brilliant so far coaching. He started with the youth, and did well, step by step. Then Man City, then USA, France and now he’s doing a brilliant job at Crystal Palace. He is a top manager.

I have been working with FIFA and my intention at some point is to be a technical director in my life. I have worked on my licence towards the Spanish Federation. Elsewhere I have the A and B coaching licences, and I have been studying at the University of Sevilla. In the long-term my plan isn’t to be a coach but a technical director.

So nice to catch up again, Edu Gaspar! The memories from our @Arsenal days are invincible, as everyone knows… 😉 pic.twitter.com/3WSdJiq1nk

— Lauren Etame Mayer (@Lauren12arsenal) August 14, 2022

Edu is doing a fantastic job as Arsenal’s technical director and he deserves more plaudits. I believe since he arrived the team have won the FA Cup and are in a good position. More importantly, for me, it’s where the technical director gets players and increases their value – that’s a job well done.

If you take an individual Arsenal player now their worth has definitely increased. If anyone were to come and buy, let’s say Odegaard, the value of that player has increased, and I believe every single player in that squad has seen their value increase. This is one of the key jobs that a technical director has to do and Edu has done it spot on.

I was one of the best Premier League right-backs

There were so many good right-backs during my time at Arsenal. Stephen Carr for Tottenham was a very good player, Geremi at Chelsea and Mario Melchiot who were also good players. You have to be humble, but I am honest, and whilst there were other good players during my time, I think I was one of the best.

🏆 FA Cup winner with us in 2002, 2003 and 2005
🥇 Premier League champion in 2002 and 2004
🙌 Arsenal Invincible

Happy birthday to you, @Lauren12arsenal 🥳 pic.twitter.com/8zvyPZaPLd

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 19, 2023

Moving to right-back from midfield was a decision made by Arsene Wenger, but at the end of the day I didn’t care, for me the most important thing was playing and to be the best in my position whenever I played and wherever I played.

And that was my life, I didn’t miss training or a game. My life was training, game, home.

Thierry Henry’s desire to be number one was unparalleled

I played with many fantastic players; Samuel Eto’o, Patrick M’Boma, but if I had to choose someone I have to go for Thierry Henry.

Dennis Bergkamp was also fantastic, what a player. I mean he was a fantastic person with unbelievable experience. Technically he was sublime.

But I choose Thierry Henry because he was quick, he had the ability to score goals and overall he wanted to be the best, but he wanted to be the best every single day, in training, in his passing, playing in games and he was absolutely, mentally, one of the best. I haven’t seen a player like that, mentally, with that kind of desire to be the number one since.

There are two games that will always stand out in my memory

The game I loved most was when we won the Premier League at Old Trafford in 2002. I always had to face Ryan Giggs – a fantastic player, one of the best players I ever faced – and that game was fantastic because defensibly I was on top of the game. Offensively we were very good and managing to win the league there was easily one of the best games I ever played in as an Arsenal defender.

That time we won the @premierleague at Old Trafford 🏆

Tomorrow, we're back there for #MUNARS 👊 pic.twitter.com/50Jj958Etv

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 4, 2018

But, of course, I also loved the 5-4 win over Spurs at White Hart Lane in 2004 where I scored a penalty. I will always remember those games.