Arsenal Patrick Vieira

–ian wright, november 1996

vieira made full debut against middlesbrough @ riverside stadium, 3 days after. scored first goal club against derby county on 8 december 1996 – late equaliser in 2–2 draw. performances arsenal in subsequent months made him fans’ favourite , lauded …the playmaker arsenal have sought since paul davis pulled strings in 1991 championship-winning team. davis himself noted in matches vieira suspended during christmas period, arsenal struggled win. ended first season 38 appearances in total , arsenal finished in third place, missing out on spot in uefa champions league via goal difference.

vieira s partnership international teammate emmanuel petit following season instrumental in helping arsenal complete domestic league , cup double. vieira scored first goal of campaign against manchester united in 3–2 victory on 9 november 1997. vieira, however, twisted knee during match , ruled out playing month. returned trip @ wimbledon on 22 december 1997, postponed due floodlight problems. in game against coventry city on 16 january 1998, vieira received first red card using foul , abusive language @ referee stephen lodge. vieira again dismissed month later, time in league cup semi-final against chelsea, decision wenger described absolutely ridiculous. towards finishing straight of campaign, vieira helped arsenal make ground on league leaders manchester united , card record had improved, …with 1 booking in latter stages of season . after successful world cup campaign national team, vieira had productive season @ arsenal in 1998–99. although arsenal failed retain premier league, vieira’s endeavour rewarded – named in pfa team of year alongside petit.

against west ham united on 2 october 1999, vieira sent off second booking, after fouling striker paolo di canio. moments after, spat @ neil ruddock, walked him , dragged off pitch officials. vieira subsequently charged, banned 6 matches , fined record £45,000 football association (fa). season ended in disappointment both vieira , arsenal, team finished 18 points behind champions manchester united, in second place. arsenal reached 2000 uefa cup final, vieira played team lost match on penalties; vieira s spot kick hit post.

disciplinary problems continued beset vieira in 2000–01 season. sent off on opening day against sunderland , second time in 72 hours @ home liverpool. vieira scored 2 goals, following match against charlton athletic, in final appearance before five-match suspension. feared vieira prepared turn on english football felt victimised – wenger, several arsenal players , fans supported him publicly, amid speculation italian club juventus prepared offer vieira escape route . vieira himself, after ban, expressed desire remain @ arsenal, noted never alter style of play: ...because, basically, don t want change. enjoy english football , life in england. happy here.

after group stage match against lazio in october 2000, vieira claimed target of racial abuse siniša mihajlović, uefa subsequently launched investigation into. mihajlović later admitted made reference vieira s colour, added provoked. player handed two-match ban unsporting actions . given arsenal finished behind manchester united in league third consecutive season, vieira reluctant commit himself club , described season, until april 2001, average . despite how mature performances had become since petit left, criticised arsenal s decision sell him , marc overmars barcelona: of course business big disappointment me. if still had same team , put overmars , petit in it, better , stronger. s not miss petit – team needs him.

in may 2001, daily telegraph reported manchester united planning audacious attempt sign vieira; manager sir alex ferguson, long-term admirer of player, given green light board make bid. in summer period, vieira disparaged arsenal s transfer activity , adamant club not finish in top 5 in league – , forget champions league, saying future: far m concerned, matter resolved. leaving arsenal , have made clear. club refused respond comments, vice-chairman david dein privately irked @ vieira s agent, marc roger, letting situation become unsettling. wenger attributed saga @ hands of manchester united: [they] made approach patrick without contacting us, , not respect rules. vieira turned pre-season training in july 2001 normal , later named club vice-captain, ensure succeed tony adams captain. success came vieira in 2001–02 season; arsenal regained league , beat chelsea in 2002 fa cup final complete second double.

adams retirement in may 2002 meant vieira became club captain. described feeling daunting , looked forward to: taking responsibility on shoulders relish. make me better, more mature footballer , more mature person well. against chelsea @ stamford bridge in september 2002, vieira sent off late tackle on gianfranco zola; arsenal s persistence nevertheless earnt them point. in interview l Équipe after, vieira spoke of desire rest, felt burned out : can hardly stand. aches, legs hurt, hurts over. m going see arsène. must give me time off relax. featured in 66 games previous campaign arsenal, wenger rejected player s need special treatment: looked @ statistics tuesday s game and, physically, patrick outstanding. pushed himself hard , explains why tired.

vieira s performance against charlton on 14 september 2002 – incidentally 200th league appearance arsenal – justified wenger s faith in captain s fitness . 2 months later, lauded guardian correspondent david lacey show against newcastle united – arsenal captain dominated afternoon demonstration of tackling, control, awareness , movement exceptional standards. vieira sustained groin injury against valencia in december 2002, returning on boxing day face west bromwich albion. in may 2003, vieira fined £2,300 uefa, having criticised organisation not doing enough on racism – player subject racist abuse against valencia. vieira missed arsenal s title run-in, saw manchester united overtake them in first place, due sustaining knee injury. vieira ruled out of 2003 fa cup final arsenal won, jointly lifted trophy captain day, david seaman.

vieira (centre, on podium) lifting premier league trophy in may 2004.

in spite of growing interest sign vieira, not least manchester united, real madrid , chelsea in summer of 2003, player agreed terms stay @ arsenal , signed deal ran until 2007. 2003–04 season successful 1 arsenal, reclaimed league title , became first english team in more century go through entire league season unbeaten. vieira endured troubling start campaign, sent off against manchester united in september 2003, banned 1 match , later fined £20,000 improper conduct in failing leave field of play following sending-off . went off thigh strain during match against newcastle united, commenced period of being in , out of side 2 months. scored first goal of season against chelsea on 21 february 2004; arsenal afterwards opened seven-point gap @ top of league. 2 months later, vieira scored opening goal away tottenham hotspur, in ended 2–2 draw – enough arsenal regain title. against leicester city in final league match of campaign, score tied @ 1–1, dennis bergkamp set vieira pass, rounded goalkeeper , scored. arsenal ended campaign league champions without single defeat – record of 26 wins , 12 draws.

the re-election of real madrid president florentino pérez in july 2004 prompted him declare club s ambition sign vieira: must repeat policy try sign best player in world in every position not have that. patrick vieira is, in opinion, best in world in position. vieira s advisors met officials real madrid, before speculated bid of £18 million had been put on table. following ultimatum set wenger, make offer west ham midfielder michael carrick replacement, vieira chose stay @ arsenal. in statement, said: m staying @ club. m proud captain of club , m looking forward achieving ambitions.

vieira scored first goal of 2004–05 season in nine-goal north london derby, arsenal won 5-4 on 13 november 2004. second goal came in fortnight @ liverpool, lift[ing] lazy, delicate finish away chris kirkland after one-touch move. arsenal lost match late on , vieira, booked in match, suspended december clash against league leaders chelsea; scored goal team against newcastle in christmas period. vieira involved in tunnel bust manchester united captain roy keane in february 2005 , confronted incident involving gary neville. arsenal fell third result of losing 4–2 united, 12 league matches unbeaten, culminating in 7–0 home win against everton, meant ended season in second place. in 2005 fa cup final, scored winning penalty in penalty shoot-out after 0–0 draw manchester united, proved final kick of ball arsenal. vieira returned opening match of emirates stadium, in testimonial bergkamp on 22 july 2006, 1 of arsenal legends against ajax.