
Patrick Vieira has backed Arsène Wenger's investment of foreign
starlets ahead of homegrown youngsters.
Vieira believes that Wenger's policy is fine just the way it is,
despite the mounting criticism aimed against the French tactian for
not having faith in English players.
Vieira said: "If you are young and you are good enough, it's good
to have a manager who will give a chance to young players.
"If you have English players who don't play, that means they are
not good enough.
"And I think they have to accept the fact they are not good enough
for the club.
"But maybe they are good for a different club.
"If there are not any young English players at Arsenal it is
because they were not good enough.
"Or, like Ashley Cole, it is because they wanted to leave.
"It all depends on what's happening but knowing Arsène Wenger and
Arsenal, they will always give the opportunities to the best
players."
Vieira has also hailed Wenger the way he nurtures young
talent.
The former Arsenal skipper, 31, speaking to feelfootball.com, said:
"I don't think there are enough Arsène Wengers and that is a big
problem.
"Young players really need time. They need confidence and patience
from the managers.
"And young players also need to grow up to learn from their
mistakes
"All those things make the manager really important for the young
players.
"Because I was young when I arrived at Arsenal and I needed to
progress, I still needed to learn my job.
"I also left my parents' house when I was quite young and even as a
human being I needed to develop.
"All those factors are really important, so Arsène really made me
improve as a football player but as a human being as well."