Vieira ‘gutted’ for Wenger and Arsenal

Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira says he is ‘gutted’ for his former boss Arsene Wenger and his recent struggle to bring trophies to the club.

The Gunners have gone six years without silverware since Vieira left the club, but the Frenchman hopes the Arsenal board stick by his old mentor.

He does, however, believe Wenger needs to instill a more physical approach to his team’s game.

He explained: “I am gutted for him because I know how much hard work he has put into Arsenal and how he loves the club. He arrives early and leaves late and spends more time on the training ground than he does at home with his family.

“You can understand the situation of the fans. They are used to winning and haven’t won anything for six years.

“[The present team] play better football than we used to do in my time, but our team was more physical and responded better to the English game. We had physicality, we had creativity, we had everything, and maybe now Arsenal lack the physical aspect of the game.”

Vieira recently retired from football and has taken up a coaching role at Arsenal’s rivals Manchester City.

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Mark Brus

I'm 23-years-old and currently living in Bristol, studying to be a journalist. I've been hooked on Arsenal since I was about 10, and as much as I sometimes wish I could stop, I can't give them up. Favourite player of all time would have to be Patrick Vieira for the sheer passion with which he played the game.

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