PATRICK VIEIRA has issued a stark warning to Arsenal about the
effects of two months of upheaval at the club.
And he admitted he is concerned there could be confusion among the
players over the shock departure of vice-chairman David Dein and
the long-term futures of manager Arsene Wenger and striker Thierry
Henry.
Former Arsenal captain Vieira said: "It is a difficult time for
Arsenal because the players need to know what's going to
happen."
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Wenger's immediate shock at the exit of Dein in April has now been
replaced by frustration and he has refused to commit himself beyond
the year he has left on his contract at The Emirates. Wenger and
Dein worked closely together on transfers and contracts and there
is no doubt the manager feels a void has been left with his close
friend no longer at the club.
And the link between star striker Henry and Barcelona grows
stronger. The Catalan giants are ready to splash out £15million to
build one of the most lethal spearheads in world football with
Henry lining up alongside Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho at the Nou
Camp.
Vieira is in no doubt the current uncertainty was provoked by the
exit of Dein, who was thought by the rest of the board to have held
detailed but unsanctioned talks with American billionaire Stan
Kroenke about a potential takeover and was told to quit.
Vieira spent nine years - "the best of my footballing life so far"
- at Arsenal and succeeded Tony Adams as captain. He retains an
enormous affection for the club and has been to see them many times
in their new £350m stadium.
But he fears the uncertainty currently surrounding the club could
have a knock-on effect among the players, saying: "Arsenal are
going through a difficult period - so many things have happened in
the last few years."
Speaking in his homeland of Senegal, where he is monitoring the
development of the Diambars Academy he set up four years ago to
help youngsters in the former French colony in West Africa, he
added: "It is a crucial time for Arsenal. David Dein has left and,
whether you like him or not, he has been a fantastic servant for
the club."
Vieira called the partnership between Dein and Wenger "the strong
base" on which the Arsenal success story has been built over the
last decade.
"One has gone now so the base is not as strong as it used to be,"
he said. "There are quality players there, young quality players.
But all the speculation affects the team, there is no doubt about
that. It concerns the players because they know Arsene signed them
with David Dein.
"With him gone the players are asking what Arsene is going to do.
Maybe if he goes they may say, 'I don't want to stay'. There are so
many questions going round in the heads of the players.
"Players need to know who's going to be the manager, which players
are coming and which are going. The next few months will be very
important for Arsenal."
Vieira, who has just celebrated a league triumph in Italy with
Inter Milan, said the talk of Henry's possible departure may well
have had an impact. "The speculation doesn't help, When you know
Arsene has one more year on his contract, that David Dein is not
there any more, then of course you ask yourself what is going to
happen.
"If Arsenal do lose Thierry Henry it will be a big blow for the
club and for the players who stay there. But whatever is the best
decision for Thierry, I'm sure he will take it."