Zimpapers Logo

Patrick Vieira

LONDON. — Arsene Wenger has been signing the wrong type of players for the last five or six years, former club captain Patrick Vieira has said. Vieira, who now coaches New York City FC in the MLS, won two English Premier League titles under Wenger during a nine-year-stay at Arsenal.

The 40-year-old also captained the Invincibles Arsenal side to the club’s last title win in 2003-2004 and believes the current side lack the blend of physicality, pace and technical proficiency of successful teams of old.

Vieira fears Arsenal will miss out on the title again because Wenger’s side are not physical enough.

Combative midfielder Vieira helped the Gunners to three English Premier League crowns during his glorious spell from 1996-2005.

But Arsenal have not lifted the League trophy since 2004 when Vieira was captain and “The Invincibles” went through the season unbeaten.

Now boss Wenger is getting fresh flak from restless fans after Arsenal lost their opener 4–3 at home to Liverpool before drawing 0-0 at Leicester.

Vieira believes the side needs a better blend of power and grit to complement their skilful stars such as Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

He explained: “In our generation we had some fantastic players with the ball but the majority of the players were quite physically strong.

“We had Dennis Bergkamp, who had the flair, and Thierry Henry who could finish and had so much power, but also players who were athletic with the physical aspect like Sol Campbell, some really strong personalities with Jens Lehmann, David Seaman or the back four. You had this Arsenal Invincibles which was quite like the French national team when we won the World Cup in 1998, when we had physical players, players with flair, players with pace, it was quite similar of that team.

“Now when I watch the Arsenal I will enjoy watching them play, they play some of the best football in the league.

“But I have a feeling that they are missing something and this something is the physical presence, the personality.

“This last five-six years Arsenal went more with this type of mobile, technical players who are completely different. Arsenal are always going to be one of the teams who can win the title because of the way they play but at the same time they will be disappointed losing games they should win.”

This summer Wenger has brought in Granit Xhaka for £35million, Rob Holding for £2.5million and has confirmed he is trying to sign defender Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia to strengthen the Gunners.

But most fans want Wenger to spend much more to finally bring the title back to the club.

Vieira added: “I think he’s being really brave not bringing the players who are not fitting the system he wants to play, or not players of the value that he seeks.

“I quite admire that, in the world where some clubs have so much money, they go and buy players for £40million and who are worth £10million.

“But the other side is that the team is not as good as it used to be, you need to reinforce the team but he is working with the team every day to improve them.” Vieira is now coaching in MLS in America where he is the rookie boss of New York City FC.

He is loving life in the Big Apple but admits he would have welcomed the chance to cut his teeth as a coach with the youngsters at Arsenal.

Vieira is disappointed Wenger has not got more ex-Gunners on the coaching staff at the club. Even record scorer Thierry Henry was binned recently when he refused to give up his Sky pundit role after being critical of the club.

Vieira reflected: “I find it a little bit disappointing, not having ex-Arsenal players working at Arsenal.

“Players want to do it and not having the opportunity they feel disappointed.

ARSENAL’S NEXT FIVE FIXTURES

Saturday August 27 – Watford vs Arsenal (Premier League)

Saturday September 10 – Arsenal vs Southampton (Premier League)

Saturday September 17 – Hull vs Arsenal (Premier League)

Saturday September 24 – Arsenal vs Chelsea (Premier League)

Sunday October 2 – Burnley vs Arsenal (Premier League)