- Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira is unhappy with Arsene Wenger's criticisms at the Emirates Stadium
- The Frenchman was part of the squad that won the Gunners' last EPL title in 2004
- Meanwhile, he's hoping the fans can give the tactician their support to lead the north Londoners back to glory days
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira feels disappointed with Arsene Winger’s criticisms at the Emirates Stadium, saying the Frenchman wants nothing but success for the club.
Wenger last won the Premier League title for the north London club in the 2004, and ever since then, he has battled to finish in the Champions League spots – until last when his side finished outside of the top four teams on the table.
Though, he has won three FA Cup titles in the last five years, yet, that is not enough to make the fans happy, as the pressure mounted on the tactician to quit the club he has managed to 22 years is on the rise.
For the first time in a long while, arsenal lost four straight games in all competitions on a bounce, but his Europa League victory over AC Milan in Italy on Thursday, March 8 made the former Monaco manager breathe a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Vieira finds this development as an act of ingratitude from the Gunners fans, adding that all those against his former manager are on personal vendetta against him.
Vieira won three top-flight titles while playing for Arsenal in the early 2000’s, with other domestic cup titles at the club, and the current New York City boss believes Wenger is owed some loyalty, having rejected big offers to stay at the club in the past.
"I find it very hard for him. Vieira told L'Equipe.
"If there is one person who wants the club to succeed, it's Arsene.
"We can discuss how the team plays or something else, but I find that the criticisms that fall on Arsene on a personal level are difficult to accept.
"It may have been becoming a coach myself that makes me feel differently.
"I remember very well every time he refused the biggest clubs to stay at Arsenal. I know what I'm talking about because the same clubs contacted me and told me, when I met them, that their first objective was to have Arsene come.
"He said no to everyone to stay at Arsenal and today people forget about it."
Vieira has been coaching in New York since 2016 and has ambitions to return to north London in the top job one day.
"Let's say some day in the future it might interest me. One day," he added.
"I cannot say anything more, because there is nothing to say and I do not want to hurt Arsene, whom I adore and for whom I have a lot of respect."
Vieira spent close to a decade at Arsenal, scoring 29 goals in 279 appearances in all competition from his midfield position.
He also played for top European clubs like Juventus, Inter Milan, Manchester City and AC Milan before hanging his boots in 2011 with three goals from 28 appearances for the Citizens.
The former Arsenal captain also won the FIFA World Cup title with France in 1998, and three years after added the FIFA Confederation cup title to his trophy cabinet among several other silverwares he won in his playing days.
Source: Sports.naija.ng