As Patrick Vieira is inducted into the National Football Museum's Hall of Fame, Sam Drury picks out five of his most memorable matches in Arsenal colours...
Friday 17 October 2014 13:50, UK
Patrick Vieira has been inducted into the National Football Museum's Hall of Fame after helping Arsenal to three league titles and four FA Cup triumphs in his nine years in north London.
During that time the Senegalese-born player established himself as one of the most complete midfielders in world football, with Europe's top clubs all desperate to prize him away from Highbury before Juventus finally succeeded in 2005.
In nearly a decade with the Gunners, Vieira put in countless virtuoso displays from the centre of the park, controlling games with ease and outclassing some of the best players the league has ever seen on a regular basis.
Here we pick out just five of his most memorable matches...
Arsene Wenger’s first great side wrapped up the Premiership title with a comprehensive victory over Howard Kendall’s Everton at Highbury. The iconic moment from the game is undoubtedly Tony Adams striding forward in the final moments to score the fourth but helping to lay the foundations for the win had been Vieira.
The Frenchman was completing his second season in English football and by this stage having established himself as a regular in the Arsenal midfield, he was quickly developing into one of the best midfielders in the league.
The same summer he went on to taste World Cup glory on home soil, coming off the bench in the final to set up club team-mate Emmanuel Petit for the third goal.
A dominant performance from Arsenal, and from Vieira in particular, somehow ended in tears as two late goals from Michael Owen snatched the FA Cup from the Gunners’ grasp.
In a game in which Arsenal were in total control, Vieira was imperious. Up against a young Steven Gerrard in central midfield, the more experienced Frenchman put on a midfield master class, pressing and harrying off the ball before driving forward and dictating the play when in possession.
Indeed, in the days after the match Gerrard admitted he had a lot to learn from Vieira, saying: “I learned a lot from the FA Cup Final. I learned that Patrick Vieira is a lot better than me.
“He's a great player. You don't realise how fit he is. He has everything as a player and he just dictates the pace of the play. I try to watch as many Arsenal games as I can because he is exciting to watch.”
Such was their superiority it is astonishing that it took until the 72nd minute for Arsenal to take the lead. Freddie Ljungberg was the scorer but the advantage lasted little over ten minutes and within 15 delight had turned to despair.
Daylight robbery it may have been but Arsenal managed a similar feat in the 2005 final. Vieira’s last game for the club saw them beat Manchester United on penalties having been outplayed for much of the game. Arsenal's No.4 scoring the winning penalty to sign off in style.
A year on from his FA Cup final heartbreak and Vieira and his Arsenal team-mates arrived at Old Trafford on the back of FA Cup final heroics, having beaten Chelsea 2-0 a few days previously.
They also knew that a draw would be enough for them to dethrone their hosts and take the Premier League crown for themselves. However, without the injured Thierry Henry and Tony Adams and with Dennis Bergkamp left on the bench, there was even more pressure on stand-in skipper Vieira to produce the goods.
He did not disappoint.
With just a point required, the surging forward runs were kept to a minimum as Vieira shielded his back four expertly, breaking up play time and again as United threatened before setting up counter-attacks with simple but decisive passes.
Sylvain Wiltord scored the game’s only goal midway through the second half and despite Sir Alex Ferguson’s men pushing hard for an equaliser, it was Arsenal who looked the more likely to score next as they attempted to exploit the space left as United threw players forward with ever increasing urgency.
As it turned out a single goal was enough to seal a second league and cup double in four years for Arsenal, Wenger and Vieira - with the best arguably still to come.
The ‘Invincibles’ season. Arsenal remained unbeaten throughout the entire league campaign and sealed the title on enemy territory for the second time in three years. Again the Gunners went into the match knowing a point would be enough to regain the title and this time that is what they were forced to settle for.
Wenger’s side made a blistering start at White Hart Lane and it was Vieira who gave them the lead after just three minutes, the skipper extending one of his telescopic legs to slide the ball home after a rapid Arsenal counter-attack.
Robert Pires doubled the visitor's advantage ten minutes before the break and although a Jamie Redknapp strike and a last minute Robbie Keane penalty drew Spurs level, it was not enough to deny Arsenal the title.
There was still another four games for Arsenal to navigate themselves through to end the league season unbeaten – Vieira was on target again as they achieved the feat with victory over Leicester on the final day of the season – but this was the moment they confirmed themselves as the best team in the country once more.
It was Vieira’s third and final league triumph with Arsenal and indeed, the club have not won the title since the midfielder’s departure.
An enthralling game in which Vieira opened the scoring but ultimately ended up on the losing side. However, it is not the action on the pitch that most people remember this match for.
Vieira and Manchester United captain Roy Keane had many fearsome battles over the years, with the man who won the individual dual more often than not winning the game too. Two highly competitive personalities, their relationship was known to be frosty at best and tempers boiled over once more as the players lined up in the tunnel ahead of this midweek fixture.
Keane took exception to what he believed was Vieira trying to intimidate Gary Neville and unsurprisingly the Irishman wasted no time in making his feelings known. A brief scuffle ensued with the verbal sparring clearly audible as the television cameras attempted to catch the pre-match action.
Keane had the last laugh on the night as United took the three points back to the North West but, in the pair’s final meeting, it was Vieira and Arsenal who were celebrating as they lifted the FA Cup on the Frenchman’s farewell appearance.
