Patrick Vieira hits out at Arsene Wenger for shunning coaching talents of former Arsenal stars
Midfield legend also believes that club's current crop of players lack the physical and mental strength of the 'Invincibles'
PATRICK VIEIRA has hit out at Arsene Wenger for shutting the door on former Arsenal players.
And the ex-Gunners star also criticised the current crop of players for lacking the mental and physical strength of the ‘Invincibles’.
Thierry Henry was the club’s first high-profile coaching departure this summer after Wenger issued him with an ultimatum over his TV work.
Fellow club legend Tony Adams then walked away to take a role in the Chinese Super League – under a month after agreeing to a return – leaving Freddie Ljungberg and Steve Bould as the only former players on their staff.
And Mikel Arteta followed Vieira in becoming another former Gunners captain to leave for Manchester City’s staff when Wenger allowed him to join Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at the end of last season.
Vieira, who won three Prem trophies and four FA Cups, believes the Gunners boss should look to the coaching structure of Ajax – who employ former Gunners stars Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars.
He said: “I’m disappointed not to have ex-Arsenal players working at Arsenal.
“It is good for the young players who could see a Thierry Henry, a Ljungberg, a Sol Campbell or a Martin Keown who have been at the club a good few years working in the academy, or working somewhere. I think they can do it a bit more.
“Players want to do it but do not have the opportunity. I don’t understand it.
“The perfect example is Ajax. You see all the old players working for the club, on the field, in the office – the door is always open for them – but Arsenal don’t do it and I don’t know why.”
The Gunners are still without a win this season after their 0-0 draw at Leicester on Saturday.
And Vieira, 40, reckons it is not hard to see why.
He added: “Now when I watch Arsenal, yes they play good football.
“But I just have a feeling they are missing something – the physical presence, the personality.
“But on the other side the team is not doing as good as it used to and you need to win football matches.
“They’ve been disappointing, losing games they should have won.”