Roy Keane was assaulted by a fan inside The Emirates Stadium as he made his way to do his post-match duties for Sky Sports.

The 52-year-old was confronted by a male in a foyer as he was waiting to get into a lift to take him from the top of a stand down to pitch side.

Mail Sport understands the male aimed a head butt at Keane and hit the Irishman on the chest and chin but was prevented from inflicting serious physical damage.

Footage circulating on social media shows Keane’s colleague Micah Richards grappling with a man to restrain him but he had left the vicinity before security guards were able to arrive.

The incident happened shortly after Alejandro Garnacho had just scored a goal that looked to have won the contest for United.

Roy Keane was assaulted by a fan inside The Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon

Footage circulating on social media shows Keane’s colleague Micah Richards (middle with bag on) grappling with a man who tried to headbutt the Irishman (far right)

Keane (second from right) and Richards (far left) carried on with their post-match punditry duties after the incident

Keane and Richards, who were were working with former Arsenal player Theo Walcott, had raced back to their studio to see what had happened, with the goal eventually being ruled out.

The pair were eventually escorted down to pitch side were they were able to continue their broadcast. 

It said everything for their professionalism that they were able to carry on as normal.

The match itself that Keane and Richards were working reached boiling point before the full-time whistle with the Emirates a cauldron of noise after an eventful 113 minutes of action.

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring for United as they went ahead against the run of play by scoring on the counter-attack against a perilous Arsenal side.

Their joy was short-lived as Arsenal replied with an equaliser just 35 seconds later and finally the rivalry between two great rivals was reignited.

£105m summer arrival Declan Rice snatched a winner in the 96th minute to sent the home crowd into raptures, before Gabriel Jesus added a third as United searched for a last-gasp equaliser.