Invincibles hero revealed what Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira was ‘always’ doing in training with surprise revelation

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Arsenal went the entire 2003/04 season unbeaten, with Patrick Vieira captaining Arsene Wenger’s greatest side to this incredible achievement.

The Gunners won 26 games, drew 12 and lost no games on their way to Premier League glory that year, in a historic title-winning campaign.

Vieira is regarded as one of Arsenal’s best-ever players, and the Frenchman was one of the key pillars of the spine of that side.

Developing a reputation as a hard-as-nails footballer, the central midfielder was one of the tough men in the early 2000s era of English football.

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Lauren’s revelation about Patrick Vieira

Making over 400 appearances for Arsenal across nine years in N5, Vieira has undoubtedly earned legendary status in North London, winning three league titles and four FA Cups in the process.

The World Cup winner’s tough-tackling and aggressive playing style would certainly suggest that he’s the consummate professional and a serious persona behind closed doors.

However, the Invincibles’ starting right-back Lauren has revealed that Vieira was actually ‘lazy’ in training, and was ‘always complaining’ in the Arsenal dressing room.

Asked who the biggest moaner in the Gunners’ squad at that time was in an interview with Soccer Am in 2019, the Cameroonian said: “Patrick Vieira, not because he didn’t want to train, but he was always complaining.

“He was lazy, but in the game it was 200%. You can see in training, and you can see in playing, it was not the same player.”

Vieira was involved in a tunnel bust-up against Manchester United in 2005, suggesting that he might’ve had a short temper at times, so it’s not actually too surprising to hear that he could get irritated behind the scenes.

Several players are cited as training in a lax fashion, but then going out and working exceptionally hard for the team on the pitch, and it appears Vieira may have fitted into this category.

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Patrick Vieira’s managerial career

Wenger believes Vieira was the best signing he ever made at Arsenal, and it’s no surprise when you consider he cost the veteran coach just £3.5 million.

Vieira will be looking to replicate similar transfer success stories as he continues his managerial career.

The Dakar-born man hung up his boots in 2011, and has since enjoyed a relatively successful post-retirement stint in coaching.

After impressing at both New York City FC and Nice, Vieira landed the Crystal Palace job in 2021.

An encouraging first season at Selhurst Park was followed by a disastrous second campaign, which spiralled before he was sacked.

However, he was quickly re-employed, overseeing a difficult term at Strasbourg which ultimately ended after just one season as he was dismissed again.

Vieira is now back in management again, taking over from Alberto Gilardino at Genoa in November, and steering them away from the Serie A relegation battle in the last few months.