A man accused of headbutting former Manchester United captain Roy Keane will claim he was defending himself from the football pundit, a court was told.

Football fan Scott Law is alleged to have assaulted the Irishman during a confrontation at the Emirates Stadium during Arsenal's Premier League showdown with Man United.

The 43-year-old, from Waltham Abbey in Essex, appeared in court to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

He denied one charge of assault by beating relating to the incident with Keane in September last year, with his lawyer revealing he will argue that he acted in 'self-defence' during his trial.

Shila Keshvari, representing Mr Law, told Highbury Magistrates' Court she would be calling up to six witnesses to the incident during his trial in May.

During the Premier League match on September 3 last year, goals from Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus cancelled out Marcus Rashford's opener for the visitors.

Footage posted on social media following the match showed 52-year-old Keane's fellow Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester City defender Micah Richards stepping in to cool tensions between the pair.

Keane, a former captain of Manchester United who enjoyed a fiercely competitive and occasionally bitter rivalry with Arsenal's 'invincibles' team captain Patrick Viera, and Richards had both been part of the punditry team for the match.

The court heard the 'issue' of the trial, currently listed for two days, would be 'self-defence'.

Ms Keshvari said that though there were currently six defence witnesses, this number could be reduced in the weeks leading up to the trial.

Magistrates' Chair Amanda Gibbon told Law, who appeared in court wearing a dark jacket and jumper: 'You have pleaded not guilty to this charge.

'We have been making arrangements for your trial.

'Currently, it's scheduled to take place for two days. It will be on May 29 and 30 in this courthouse.

'We are going to release you on unconditional bail.'