Patrick Vieira is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Arsenal’s history.
The Frenchman was the heartbeat of Arsene Wenger’s legendary team and led the Gunners to multiple Premier League titles, the last of which was when Arsenal went the entire season unbeaten to become The Invincibles.
Vieira’s leadership, presence and mentality made him one of the most respected figures in the game, and not many players dared to challenge him during his playing days.
However, there was one teammate who had no problem doing that – Thierry Henry.
If Patrick Vieira isn’t Arsenal’s greatest EVER captain, then who is?
Patrick Vieira says Thierry Henry was a ‘nightmare’ as a teammate at Arsenal
Henry is one of Arsenal’s biggest legends, and his impact at the club was extraordinary.
The Frenchman was a leader in his own way and set incredibly high standards for himself and everyone around him.
Patrick Vieira shared the pitch with Henry at Arsenal and for France, and has now revealed that playing alongside the striker was not always easy.
The legendary number 14 demanded perfection and was never afraid to show his frustration when things did not go his way. That made him a difficult teammate at times.
However, it also brought the best out of everyone in the squad.
Vieira said on CBS Sports: “We’ve known each other for a long, long time because we shared a room with the France U21s. It was a real pleasure to play with Thierry.
“He was a nightmare as a teammate, but he always managed to get the best out of every single one of us, because he was really demanding. When the ball didn’t arrive, he would be showing that he wasn’t happy, with his face.
“He didn’t need to talk, but it was still loud enough to be really demanding of us. But he managed to get the best of the players around him, and that is a sign of greatness.”
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Viktor Gyokeres must take inspiration from Thierry Henry
Viktor Gyokeres has shown signs of that same hunger at Arsenal this season, especially with the way he makes constant runs in behind.
However, he is often ignored or the passes come too late, which limits his impact.
This is where the Swede needs to take a leaf out of Henry’s book and demand more from his Arsenal teammates. If the ball is not coming at the right time, he has to make that clear.
Gyokeres is an excellent finisher when he gets into the right positions, but he needs better service to maximise his strengths. That communication with teammates is crucial.
By being more vocal and demanding, he can help improve Arsenal’s attacking play.
It may not always be comfortable, but as Henry showed back in the day, that is often what separates good players from great ones.
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