Source: Telegraph
Patrick Vieira's move back to Arsenal would be both bizarre and beneficial
Arsene Wenger is genuinely considering re-signing his former captain on a pay-as-you play deal in a move that seems to contradict the fundamentals of his transfer policy.
It is completely counter-intuitive. Wenger is famously gerontophobic: players over 30 only get a one-year contract extension and any signs of excessive wear and tear and out they go. As manager he admits he is ruthless and when he decides a player has passed his peak, as he did with Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Vieira himself, he lets them go. The relative ease with which Kolo Toure was allowed to leave for Manchester City was in part motivated by the theory that, even at only 28, his best years might be behind him.
So it is difficult to understand the thinking behind a move for Vieira, who, at 33, seems to have lost his edge. What is Wenger thinking? He was his usual cagey self when asked why he would change his approach. 'If I bring Patrick back I'll explain why I changed the policy,' he said. 'I will look at all the options we have during the week. I believe we have a strong squad now and if we can add one or two more players we will.'
The last time Vieira kicked a ball in an Arsenal shirt was also the last time they won a trophy. He struck the winning penalty in the shoot-out that decided the 2005 FA Cup final, and moved to Juventus that summer. Throughout the barren period by far the longest of his time at Arsenal - Wenger has maintained that there is no absence of leadership in his team, that leadership is about quiet responsibility with the ball, not about the decibels of John Terry-style captaincy. In weighing up a move for Vieira, Wenger is conceding that he was wrong.
Vieira has presence, he has an aura. He will intimidate the opposition and protect his team-mates. No doubt Wenger would seek to make him an on-pitch coach, a means of projecting his voice into the thick of the match action.
There is enthusiasm among the players. 'I had the chance to train with him and play with him when I first arrived [in 2003] and he's great leader,' said Johan Djourou.
'He can organise the group as he wants. He's a winner. I heard that there might be the chance of him coming back but it is not up to us players it is up to the boss. But he's a guy with a great character so why not? We are a young team and we miss sometimes that kind of experience. He's got that. So, it's down to the boss whether to bring him in or not.'
The problem then is how to integrate his lack of mobility into this team. Perhaps Wenger sees Vieira in a different role. He can no longer do the box-to-box rampaging that made him such a fiercely successful player in the late 90s but if Wenger can get him playing like Claude Makelele, asking him to sit in front of the back four and use his nous to break up opposition attacks, then it just might work. Denilson does the anchor role at the moment but is only 21 and would benefit from not having to play as often. As a bonus, Vieira's height would help with Arsenal's defensive problems at set pieces.
Whether Vieira arrives or not, the edge of panic that has accompanied some assessments of Arsenal's prospects has been excessive. As was evident in yesterday's 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the Emirates Cup, there many things right about Wenger's squad.
Wenger bridles at suggestions that the sale of Emmanuel Adebayor to City has left him short up fornt, rattling off the options he has going forward: Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott, Carlos Vela, Eduardo and Andrei Arshavin, who scored both Arsenal goals after coming off the bench.
Then there is the long range shooting of Tomas Rosicky, fit again after 18 months out with injuries. However, Arshavin was the outstanding performer and Wenger is confident he will have a 'big impact' this season.
The only player to match the quality of Arshavin's performance yesterday was Jack Wilshere, who shares the Russian's low centre of gravity and inventive wit on the ball. 'Jack Wilshere has matured, compared to a year ago he has more power to take people on,' Wenger said. 'He has gained a fraction of power which makes him more dangerous. Patience is not your first quality at that age but he is at a big club. We have to manage that well. Jack can play in some games - he provokes things and destabilises his opponent, he demands power but has shown in pre-season he has gained power.'
