There was a throwback last night as Rio Ferdinand and Martin Keown saw West Ham legend Paolo Di Canio at Arsenal.
Paolo Di Canio goes down as one of – if not the – best players in West Ham’s modern history.
Certainly of the Premier League era.
He was West Ham’s answer to Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp – another sensational Premier League star.
Di Canio played for a host of top clubs during his career.
But it was West Ham where the firebrand Italian truly made his name.
Prior to that he had history with Arsenal, against whom he was infamously sent off before pushing the referee and leaving Nigel Winterburn a cowering wreck.
What was West Ham legend doing at the Emirates?
Di Canio would go on to leave an ever-lasting impression on the Hammers. And the same was true of the club on the Italian – who sports a West Ham tattoo on his arm.
He would also enjoy a host of brilliant games for West Ham against Arsenal and one particular match where he gave old foe Martin Keown the run-around.So what was he doing watching Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday night you might wonder?
Arsenal’s big Champions League quarter-final clash with Bayern Munich was being shown live on TNT Sports for whom Di Canio’s former West Ham teammate Rio Ferdinand and Arsenal legend Keown are pundits.
Hammers reunion for Rio and Paolo at Arsenal
Di Canio – given his lanyard and pitchside access – was presumably covering the game in his role as a pundit for Italian TV.
And it resulted in a brilliant West Ham reunion for Ferdinand and Di Canio – albeit at the Emirates.
Keown also went to greet Di Canio as the trio caught up before the 2-2 draw.
Ferdinand posted the video on his social media saying: “What a guy… Paolo Di Canio,” alongside a heart.
Ferdinand and Di Canio share a warm embrace before exchanging compliments about how well the other looks.
Di Canio then tells his old West Ham teammate he looks like he can still play on the pitch.
Keown then comes over and Rio jokes “No fighting, no fighting!”
Keown responds: “I wouldn’t want to fight him now, look at him” and Di Canio says: “Fortunately now we are relaxing.”
It was a lovely moment and little bit of nostalgia to see Di Canio back on a Premier League pitch.
Trip down memory lane for West Ham and Arsenal fans
Speaking at an event for West Ham fans last month, Di Canio said he’d love to manage the Hammers one day.
“West Ham would be perfect. For me, the only club I could choose (to manage),” Di Canio said at the event.
“But if it’s not possible at West Ham, maybe I would go to a different place, and then work my way towards (West Ham). Then take them to Wembley and the FA Cup, Come on you Irons!”
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