By Myles Palmer
Patrick Vieira should forget about Juventus and concentrate on beating Southampton, Panathinaikos, Blackburn and Mallorca.
That Juve swap story is just another Marc Roger fantasy.
It would, of course, suit PV’s agent if Juventus swapped Edgar Davids for Vieira plus cash.
But Davids has glaucoma and an appalling disciplinary record.He has just served a drug ban.
With that much baggage, what is Davids worth in today’s market.Five million?
With Premiership referees as they are now The Pitbull would be sent off every other Saturday.
Plus : has Arsene Wenger ever done a swap deal in his five years at Arsenal?
No.
Because he is ultra-specific about what players he wants and what he wants from each player.
PATRICK VIEIRA should start concentrating and start earning his wages.
He has been by far the best midfielder in the Premiership for three years, but now he has a rival.
JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON has arrived to show Patrick what he will be facing in next year’s World Cup Final.
Veron’s last goal, the fourth goal against Spurs, the one that made it 4-3, was class.
Easy control with the right foot, stunning shot with the left into the far corner. A fabulous goal that Veron should have saved for the World Cup Final.
Veron is coming to Highbury with United on Sunday 25th November.
Between now and then Gooners will be expecting Vieira to get his act together.
BUT HE HAS SAID HE IS WAITING FOR A CALL FROM JUVENTUS.
Does that mean he won’t be trying against Southampton, Panathinaikos, Blackburn and Mallorca?
Does he WANT the team to fail in the Champions League so he can say : You see, Arsenal will NEVER win the big one.That’s why I want to leave.
From now on every pass and run and tackle Vieira makes
will be put under the microscope.
Some fans have been restless for weeks now.
A majority still love Vieira irrationally, of course. Football fans are very sentimental.
But a large minority are fed up with him. He hasn’t been the same player this season and they do not believe he will ever be the same player again.
So if Vieira is playing at 70%,then those people will start booing him. It might not be this week or next week or next month, but it could happen.
It’s up to Vieira now. If he is honest he will concentrate and play as well as he can do and should do.
Arsene, a supremely inventive apologist, has said that Patrick hasn’t really found his game yet.
Why not?
When is Vieira gonna score for Arsenal again?
He scored six goals last season. More than ever before.
He improved his scoring and playmaking last season.
We are now in the second week of October and Vieira is due a goal.
I’m watching. And waiting.
8th October 2001.