Ruud van Nistelrooy believes Arsenal were "a little obsessed" with him and Manchester United, but says he misses the rivalry between the two clubs.
Arsenal were fined £175,000 by the FA and Martin Keown, Lauren, Ray Parlour and Patrick Vieira all received bans after clashes on the pitch when Van Nistelrooy missed a last-minute penalty against the Gunners at Old Trafford in 2003.
Viera had been sent off for kicking out at Van Nistelrooy before the spot kick -- leading to Arsene Wenger calling the forward a "cheat" -- while altercations in the dressing-room area after the final whistle saw the British media describe the game as the "Battle of Old Trafford."
Van Nistelrooy made amends a year later by scoring a penalty to halt the Gunners' unbeaten league streak at 49 games, but the striker was subsequently banned for three matches for a challenge on Cole.
The forward was speaking in Oxfordshire -- where ex-Gunners defender Keown lives -- and told reporters when informed about his former rival's location: "Really? He'll probably be jumping all over me!
"That game was incredible. It was this unbeaten Arsenal side, a last-minute penalty, and I hit the bar. Then it went crazy, loads happened.
"The truth is, I wasn't aware because I was so gutted about missing the penalty.
"I couldn't care less what they were doing. I was in shock, thinking: 'I missed, I missed.' Patrick Vieira was sent off, he was waiting in the tunnel, but I couldn't care less. I walked past him.
"I barely ever missed. I was in the dressing room and trying to analyse what I did wrong. I took it too quickly. In those big moments, you have to take more care. I didn't settle and focus. I think Arsenal were a little obsessed with United at the time, and with me.
"I was never as involved with them as they were with me. There was always big build-up and media talk, but on the pitch I usually kept my calm. I don't have a problem with them. I miss the rivalry, of course."
Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in his five seasons at Old Trafford, winning the Premier League title and an FA Cup before moving to Real Madrid.