Welcome Back PV04

The last kick that won Arsenal its last trophy before the barren patch set in was this man’s. A player whose transfer was requested by the Professor before he took charge in Ashburton Grove, a player whose loaded stamina and remarkable physical strength would pay the Gunners rich dividends in years to come, and a player who led Arsenal to the celebrated Unbeaten run – a run which forced even the biggest juggernauts of world football to stand up and salute the spirit of this club. Aye, we are talking about the man voted as the 5th Greatest Arsenal player of All-Time. We are talking about Patrick Vieira..

An 11Gunners Exclusive on the “Return of the Legend of PV04“..

Literally the centre of the Invincible whirlpool that condemned its rivals to dark stupors of heavy defeats, Patrick Vieira was a subject of great speculation once the 2003-04 season concluded. His wonderful leadership and mountainous calmness on the football pitch had attracted the attention of clubs around Europe, with Real Madrid tracking him the most. But Vieira had no intentions of leaving then, but it was just one more season that the Arsenal faithful would be able to see him play in Red and White colours – he would go on to join Italian giants Juventus in the summer of 2005.

His time at the Old Lady was short-lived as the club was relegated following its involvement in a match-fixing scandal. This resulted in most of the big names leaving the club with Patrick Vieira joining fellow Italian club Internazionale. He has since then won the Italian Cup two times and three successive Serie A titles with the club. However, Pat hasn’t been a regular under Jose Mourinho, and for a player as classy as he is, there shall be no surprises at his dissatisfaction with off and on appearances. He was dubbed to rejoin Arsenal in the summer, but due to some complications, the deal failed to go through. However, as the season started across Europe, chitchats regarding Pat’s future refilled the London airs.

What If..Vieira is on his way back to North London? What If..the talismanic ex-captain is set to step up on the Emirates pitch in Gunning colours once again??

First though, let us see how the departure of Patrick Vieira affected Arsenal in the years that followed:

• Arsenal was left reeling as a defensive midfielder of Pat’s quality was not easy to replace. The Gunners struggled in the Premier League getting engaged in a dogfight with cross-city rivals Tottenham to finish fourth.
• Gilberto was the understandable replacement and he played the role well. However, Arsenal had obvious defensive fragilities which led to their failure in finishing at the pinnacle in the league as well as Cup competitions.
• Mathieu Flamini made that position his in the 2007-08 season and proved to be another of the professor’s exceptional finds. However, he left the following summer quite evidently attracted by the big money on offer at Milan forgetting the loyalties that mark every Arsenal player.
• In the following season, Diaby, Denilson, and Song all played from the same position but none of them succeeded in cementing their place as the first choice CDM.
• Not the only reason, but Patrick Vieira’s exit certainly proved more knotty than would have been initially conceived by the Professor.

So What If..Patrick Vieira Returns To Arsenal!?

Considering Arsenal’s start to the season, his arrival might be the icing on the cake that we’ve been looking for. An experienced head, he will undoubtedly befit the role of a campaigner who guides his fellowmen to glory in the closing stages of the season. Also bearing in mind that Arsenal boasts of some of the best young footballing talents from around the world, his presence will allow the youngsters to get candid and thereby more expressive in their play. It would be unwise not to cite the potential difference Pat can make in the dressing room – the Professor knows him inside out which would only help him in confiding in the Frenchman, which in turn would be definitely advantageous in Arsenal’s pursuits of palpable splendour in years to come.

A champion of sorts, Patrick Vieira has never attempted to veil his love for the Gunners, and it would only make him content to approach the end of his career in the place most celebrated in his heart.

A marriage made in heaven, Arsenal and Vieira are unquestionably made for each other. Kudos!

Expect to see you again Gooning all the way, Pat!