Former Tottenham coach Clive Allen has revealed he was stopped from punching Arsene Wenger in a fiery north London derby by Carlo Cudicini.
Allen, who played for Spurs from 1984 to 1988, has disclosed the moment he came close to hitting former Arsenal manager Wenger during his time on the coaching staff at White Hart Lane in his new autobiography Up Front.
The 58-year-old has not been a fan of the Frenchman ever since he called him 'a cheat' 13 years ago.
Tottenham beat Wenger's Arsenal 2-1 at home in 2011 and Allen was furious with the way Wenger reacted in defeat.
In an extract from the book published by The Evening Standard, Allen said: 'I stuck out my hand to shake, but he just walked past me, because he'd lost. That’s the way he is. I chased after him down the tunnel.
'"Come on Arsene!” I shouted. "Are you a man or a mouse? Shake my hand." He wouldn’t.
'At that point, I lost it. I screamed at him. I was ready to blow. "Just because we’ve won for once!"
'Just as I went to swing for him, reserve goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini saved the day. He threw his arm over my shoulder.'
During his playing career Allen joined Arsenal from Queens Park Rangers four years before he joined Tottenham but he never made an appearance for the Gunners.