Au revoir Patrick Vieira – A true Arsenal and France midfield legend

COMMENT
By Robin Bairner

On Thursday, Patrick Vieira announced to the world his decision to quit professional football. After playing a bit-part role at Manchester City over the course of the last year, the former France international’s decision came as no shock, with reports emerging from his home country during April that a halt to his career was at least an even money bet.

The 35-year-old has never commanded the same star quality as some of his peers nor has his name become synonymous with his position, such as Claude Makelele, yet his list of achievements is lengthy, and in time he deserves to be remembered as one of the outstanding midfield talents of his generation.

For the best part of 20 years, Vieira has plied his trade in some of Europe’s most glamorous locations, from Cannes, where he started his career with the modest French outfit, to Milan and London.

It was during his time with Arsenal that his legend grew. Discarded by AC Milan after only one season at San Siro, during which he was a teenage hope unable to break into the first team, under the wing of Arsene Wenger, the Senegalese-born player would flourish.

Gunners great | Vieira’s glittering career has come to an end

Reflecting on Vieira’s contribution, the former Monaco boss declared to his club’s official website: “His career is sensational. He was an exceptional player for us.

“We have classy players in midfield now but Patrick was special. At Arsenal we will be forever grateful for Patrick’s contribution.”

Even at a young age, the midfielder had a physique that would lend itself to the cut-and-thrust Premier League style. His distinctive lengthy gait allowed him to cover ground with deceptive speed, and though his tall frame at times looked a little spindly, there could be little doubting the raw power of the central player who arrived at Highbury.

And he was no shrinking violet either, enjoying a ferocious rivalry with Manchester United’s Roy Keane and boasting the dubious distinction of having seen eight Premier League red cards – a record tally he shares with Richard Dunne and Duncan Ferguson.

Date of birth June 23, 1976 Clubs Cannes, AC Milan, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter, Manchester City Caps 107 (6 goals) Under-21 caps 7 Position Midfielder Honours 3 Premier Leagues, 5 FA Cups, 5 Scudetti*, 1 World Cup, 1 European Championship * one later rescinded due to Calciopoli scandal

These attributes alone would not, however, have been enough to elevate him to the status of a Gunners great. As well as being strong physically, Vieira was mentally a ferocious opponent. Technically a strong player, he married his control of the ball with an ability to spot a clever pass or make a well-timed late foray into the box, allowing him to bag nearly 50 league goals during his first spell in England.

At the age of just 19 he captained Cannes, and the Dakar-born player’s leadership skills would be to the fore throughout his time with the north Londoners. Indeed, it is telling that Arsenal won seven major trophies during Vieira’s time at the club, but have not won anything since the 2004-05 FA Cup final, which was fittingly won by the Frenchman’s effort during a penalty shoot-out.

Blessed with superb all-round ability, Vieira was an icon of Wenger’s attractive Arsenal at their peak; a far cry from the workmanlike side of George Graham, which had been so successful in the early part of the 1990s.

Perhaps the greatest achievement of any Gunners side in history was the ‘Invincible’ season of 2003-04, when they completed their league campaign without a single defeat, inevitably picking up the title.

Vieira was, of course, a key dynamo in that effort, captaining the team from its engine room and scoring the winning goal against Leicester City on the final day of the season that ensured the Foxes, who took a 1-0 lead, would not break a remarkable run on the season’s final day.

If Vieira’s departure from Wenger’s side marked the end of a Golden Age at Highbury, it did not pose the elegant midfielder the same problems. Indeed, if Juventus’ stripped Scudetto title of 2005-06 is counted, the defensive midfielder would pick up five consecutive Italian crowns, abandoning the Turin side as they were relegated to Serie B for Roberto Mancini’s Inter, who would grow even stronger under Jose Mourinho.

But by the time the Milan giants would pick up the treble, Vieira’s time had gone, shipped off to Manchester City after injury had forced him out of the Portuguese’s plans.

At Eastlands, the midfielder would fail to fully establish himself, with much of his time spent on the bench.

“At Arsenal we will be forever grateful for Patrick’s contribution.” – Arsene Wenger

If Vieira’s club career petered out in a rather unjust fashion, on the international stage his exit was more abrupt. Capped 107 times by France during their heyday – only four players (Lilian Thuram, Thierry Henry, Marcel Desailly and Zinedine Zidane) have represented the nation more frequently – he was treated like a mere child by Raymond Domenech, who disrespectfully dropped his veteran captain following a poor performance in a 1-0 defeat by Nigeria. Despite the coach stating the door was open for a return to the national side, it was clear Vieira would not wear his nation’s blue again.

The international stage was another happy hunting ground for Vieira, however. Despite only making his debut in 1997, he was involved in France’s victorious World Cup ’98 campaign, playing the concluding 15 minutes of the final after replacing Youri Djorkaeff. By the time Euro 2000 came around, he would be a key component of the side, playing every minute of the knockout stages as France added the continental title to their haul.

His time with France may have been every bit as efficient as it was at club level, but he would never be granted freedom to burst forward, which yielded him a healthy tally of club goals.

Indeed, it will be for his dynamic midfield play at Arsenal that Vieira is most fondly remembered, particularly by Gunners fans, who should reckon him to be amongst the greatest to have ever pulled on their club’s shirt.

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