Country: USA
Player:Saliba
When we talk about legends at this football club, we think of iconic players who symbolised a generation of success. Few personify this more than Patrick Vieira. He arrived as a relative unknown from AC Milan's reserves in 1996 - a gangly young footballer with a distinctive, dominant style of player. Every time Arsenal were facing a counter attack, you would see those telescopic legs somehow catch whoever it was that thought they were getting away. Surrounded by 3 or 4 opponents, a ball dropping from the sky, he would muscle them off before calmly chesting the ball down, flicking it over their heads, and igniting another blistering Arsenal attack. He won 3 Premier League titles and 3 FA Cups, as well as breaking into the best French team of all time and becoming widely renowned as the best all round central midfielder in the world.
He left in strange circumstances in 2005. An extremely underwhelming final season was followed by a swift departure to Juventus and Serie A was greeted with mixed emotions. At the same time, I think most Gooners wished him well and were glad that he was not joining another English team. He returned to play in Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial for the opening game at the Emirates Stadium and was greeted warmly by the fans.
But....
After failing to win a new contract with Inter, he joined Man City and returned to England. Although he was now a shadow of the Vieira that we once saw at Highbury, there was something that didn't feel quite right about him playing for another team in the Premier League, least of all that lot. Then it came to his retirement. He moved straight out of playing to become some kind of director of footballing development at that club. I can imagine that financially for him and his family, it makes a lot of sense, but football wise, I can't help but feel a little bit like he's sold his soul.
He is now regularly seen and heard talking up Manchester City and their prospects over other clubs, like Arsenal. It doesn't feel right. Am I the only one who feels that no matter how much money someone offered a guy like Thierry Henry, he would never have accepted? Is it wrong to feel indifferent towards a guy who helped us to so much success just because he is now working for such a resentful football club which has foregone all morals to achieve similar success? Your thoughts please.
He left in strange circumstances in 2005. An extremely underwhelming final season was followed by a swift departure to Juventus and Serie A was greeted with mixed emotions. At the same time, I think most Gooners wished him well and were glad that he was not joining another English team. He returned to play in Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial for the opening game at the Emirates Stadium and was greeted warmly by the fans.
But....
After failing to win a new contract with Inter, he joined Man City and returned to England. Although he was now a shadow of the Vieira that we once saw at Highbury, there was something that didn't feel quite right about him playing for another team in the Premier League, least of all that lot. Then it came to his retirement. He moved straight out of playing to become some kind of director of footballing development at that club. I can imagine that financially for him and his family, it makes a lot of sense, but football wise, I can't help but feel a little bit like he's sold his soul.
He is now regularly seen and heard talking up Manchester City and their prospects over other clubs, like Arsenal. It doesn't feel right. Am I the only one who feels that no matter how much money someone offered a guy like Thierry Henry, he would never have accepted? Is it wrong to feel indifferent towards a guy who helped us to so much success just because he is now working for such a resentful football club which has foregone all morals to achieve similar success? Your thoughts please.