Arsenal Legends During Arsene Wenger's Era: Patrick Vieira

My next few articles will be about the greatest players (in different positions) to have played for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.

This comes at about the right time when people are starting to question Wenger's abilities as a manager, these should be a timely reminder of what the great manager has given us since taking over the managerial role in 1996.

Patrick Vieira arrived at Arsenal in September 1996, actually before Wenger took charge (which was in October 1996). Vieira was in fact Wenger's first signing for the Gunners, and till this day, arguably the most important.

He was influential in all three of Wenger's premiership winning campaigns, also won four F.A. Cups with the Gunners, along with four Community Shield winners medal. The Frenchman was significantly awarded with the Captain's armband after the great Tony Adams retired in 2002.

The Frenchman played with power, drive, and for such a big man, unbelievable skills andtechnique.

 Flicking the ball over the opponents, dragging the ball to turn markers, outrageous long passes with the outside of his boots, but what Arsenal fans miss the most, his tackling ability and his raw, demanding, physical frame which simply scared opponents before they even stepped on the pitch.

 During his peak, he could single-handedly dominate a midfield. Quite rightly so, during 1998-2002, he was very much known as the most complete midfielder in the world.

Gerrard, in his autobiography mentioned Vieira and how difficult he was as an opponent to play against, Lampard in countless interviews claimed he dreams to have the same influence of Vieira and in an interview with the Daily Mail in 2004, he claimed Vieira was just a "Monster" who scared the s*** out of opponents.

Roy Keane, though he won't admit it, but he knows it, that Vieira was the best opponent he had ever come across.

With such great performances came great interests from big clubs, none more so than greedy Real Madrid and even, Manchester United. Vieira was seen by Sir Alex as the best possible partner for Roy Keane, even though the Frenchman had very much been a thorn for the Red Devils over the years.

Obviously though, Paddy was never going to break the fans' hearts and join his greatest rival.

Real Madrid, who were going through the Galacticos era, intended to sign the best players in every position (Ronaldo and Raul, Zidane and Figo, Beckham and Roberto Carlos , etc). To them, Vieira was obviously regarded as the best central midfielder, and the Spanish Giants knocked hard on Arsenal's door every transfer window.

When the most glamourous club in the world is interested in you, you obviously become slightly unsettled. Look at C.Ronaldo for example. Vieira was tempted and was just a signature away from leaving the Gunners for 20+ million pounds. At the end, a dramatic U-Turn occured with Vieira opting to stay at Highbury.

Some claim it was because he loved Arsenal, some claim it was because of the paycut he would've had to take at Madrid. In his autobiography though, he claimed that he stayed because he thinks he has more freedom to express himself on the pitch in an Arsenal shirt.

But at Real, everything are seemed controlled, he would have to defend and defend only at Real, whereas at Arsenal, he can remain the complete player that he is.

Andhe made the right choice it seems, with the Gunners going invincible andwas unbeaten during their title winning season, while Madrid were trophy-less for the second season running.

Greatest Goal

In my opinion, that goal against Man Utd in 1997. A strike from just outside the box which swirled and dipped, that big Dane in Man Utd's goal was well and truly beaten (shame Paddy injured himself with his goal celebration...).

Most Memorable Match

So many to choose from. Again in my opinion, the F.A. Cup final against Liverpool in 2001 was perhaps his best match for the Gunners, even though we lost it to Michael Owen (not liverpool, just Owen).

Up against a young Steven Gerrard, Vieira taught the scouser a lesson on how to dominate a midfield. Whenever Gerrard picked up the ball, Vieira was breathing down his neck, hassling him and stealing the ball from him.

When Gerrard tries to win it back, Vieira does the tricks that worked countless times again, using his physique, and to simply powering his way past the midfield, or using clever touches to play his way out of trouble.

He never hoofed the ball forward. His style was to play his way out of trouble, either by running or passing, and you hardly ever see that in players of his size.

He was immense as Gerrard himself admitted in his auto-biography. He was on the losing side on the team's note, but on a personal note, he was by far the best player on the pitch.

Most Memorable Moment

Again, so many to choose from.. The type of rivalry he had with Roy Keane is unlikely to be seen again in the EPL. Arsenal VS Man Utd was the biggest match for about six years in the EPL, and Keane VS Vieira was the battle everyone looked forward to, not Van Nistelrooy vs Henry.

But to me, nothing beats the penalty kick in the F.A. Cup final against Man Utd in 2005, the penalty kick which won Arsenal the famous trophy, and what proved to be his last kick as an Arsenal player. Deservingly so.

What Did He Give to Arsenal

As I mentioned above, he is arguably Wenger's best signing to date. Because he was Wenger's first signing and he never left the starting lineup when fit. Arrived at 3.5 million pounds, he was the heartbeat of the all conquering Arsenal side during 1998-2004 which won trophies after trophies.

Henry scored the goals, but think about it, if Arsenal didn't have the ball, how would Henry score? Vieira did the most important thing of all, and that was, actually getting the ball and maintaining possession.

He broke opponent's attacks with hard, thumping tackles, then gives a simple pass to start lightning counter attacks, or simply drives forward with the ball, beating three or four players with pure power, to set up/score a goal.

If people suggests the current Arsenal misses Henry, I would rather think every team in the world would miss a Vieira. League positions with Vieira, third-first-second-second-second-first-second-first-second.

League positions since he left, fourth-fourth-third-fifth (at the moment). Not saying he is the reason for Arsenal's drop in league position, but stats are stats, and it proves just how important a player he was for the Gunners.

What Did He Give to The EPL

You might not realise it, but he has actually had a massive influence in football. How often did you see a gangly, lanky midfielder before Vieira? Most midfielders before him were shorter, but more mobile.

But after Vieira, the amount of midfielders withsimilar frame have become hot properties around the world, andalso, the amount of players playing with a goal of "I want to become a Vieira," Yaya Toure, Diop, Sissoko.

Most managers (especially the continental ones) realise, that every successful team needs a Vieira type player to break plays and drive the team forward, andthis trend was very much started by our very own Wenger!!

Combining physical power with sweet touches, that is something we hope to see in Abou Diaby.

Biggest Shame

Apart from the fact that he left—he really picked up far too many cards. He had been sent off nine times in an Arsenal shirt during his nine seasons at the club.

The biggest shame, however, was that in the latter stages of his Gunners career, he had far too many injuries. Fitness problems led to rather poor performances by his high standards.

The emergence of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard slowly meant that Vieira's helm as the most complete EPL midfielder was slipping away from him, and the Gaffer knew, if the great Frenchman was ever to leave, it was now, in 2005, to Juventus of the Italian Serie A.

"The greatest Wenger XI"

Next up- Goalkeeper- (You know who...)

  ?  Vieira  ?  ?