The Gunners boss had considered moving for his old midfield enforcer, now seemingly surplus to requirements at Inter Milan.
However, Wenger decided against pursuing his initial interest during the summer, instead placing faith in youngsters like Aaron Ramsey, Abou Diaby and Denilson.
New Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is, though, reported to be ready to offer the 33-year-old - whom he signed while in charge at Inter during 2006 - a return to England, initially on a loan deal, as Vieira aims to cement his place in the French World Cup squad.
Lyon were also keen to bring Vieira back to Ligue 1, but it now appears Eastlands could be his next stop.
"I will respect Patrick forever for what he has done and what he has achieved here," Wenger said.
"We have young players in his position and are not in a real need to bring players in this position."
The Arsenal manager added: "I was surprised it was Manchester City, because there were more talks about other clubs, but it is a good opportunity for him.
"I believe he will still be very effective in the Premier League because he has been injury free for three or four months and that is what he needed."
What do you think? Have your say. Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
If he was good enough for Wenger to look at then he is good enough for City with two caveats. Both of which put Wenger off in the end. The first is that Vieira has had quite a few injury problems and, as Wenger points out, it is only the last three or four months he has really been injury free. Who is to say that he won't walk on to the pitch at Eastlands and do his calf or his hamstring in the first match. Which would be not unlikely bearing in mind he has hardly played for ages. The second point that Wenger makes is that he has younger players for the same position and so do we. Which begs the question why would we want him in the first pace when de Jong is doing so well and both Kompany and Zabaletacan both fulfil the role, as can Barry. On the other hand, his experience would be invaluable even in the squad short term, he would cost us nothing and he is not anything like the liability that two other famous free transfers have proved in recent months - i.e. Owen to United who refuses to score unless he is playing Fergie time and Sylvestre who is even worse at Arsenal than he was at United. This one is down to Mancini and probably a signing that, if made, the fans should probably reserve judgement on until a few games down the line. After all, so far, Mancini appears to have done nothing wrong. He is known as a lucky manager and I am certainly not complaining about that if he comes up smelling of roses every time.
good inclusion to the squad
we need experienced pro at this moment in time
I think we need look at the bigger picture and not just playing ability. There is no doubt we have enough options in midfield that Viera would hardly enhance, what we haven't got in abundance is characters like him. Maybe Mancini has assessed the players and knows we need a few more leaders of men in the dressing room and on the training pitch. Hardly a gamble considering he would be virtually free.
I can appreciate that Mancini wants some people around that understand his methods and help get them across to the team, as long as it's the best players who make it onto the pitch on match days. We have are own players that want to qualify for international teams. Dejong will not be happy! I hope Mancini does not spoil a promising developing squad through cronyism! He also needs to concentrate more on the defence!!!
I understand the caution around Vieira and the fact that we have good midfielders already, but I see Vieira as better box to box option than both De Jong and Kompany, with arguably, better distribution and goal scoring ability. With the loss of Michael Johnson for the season, this would be an astute loan deal, with little risk and a whole lot of positives. Good winning mentality, desire to play for France, experince and if he stays injury free, a very good option against the taller tougher teams like Stoke, Wigan, etc.
Don't get me wrong, De Jong is quality and is tough and brutal, but I think there will be games where De Jong could play alongside Vieira, with one breaking up play and the other streaming forward and providing to the strikers.
In Mancini we Trust!!!!
CTID
Never boo a blue you dont know your ar-e from your elbow.
Latest rumour from goal.com: Mancini interested in Juan Sebastian Veron..... Please no....
he is 34 years old and last time he played in the prem it was not an overwhelming succes... come on city, we need younger players to build the future on
I cannot figure out if the rumour is true or not...???
By the way I have made a list of names going to city according to the rumours from medio December till today.... there is already over 60 names... Im going nuts
Apparently RM likes to play with 3 holding midfield players and one box to box creative midfielder - who's to argue his record speaks for itself.
I truly believe Viera would give us a box to box option with experience, hunger, quality passing and height. He can score goals and is is a good option instead of De Jong sometimes or even with De Jong, where DJ can break up play and Viera can stream forward setting up strikers.
Its all good
CTID
strange, we think viera maybe to old at 33, yet if united were to get him, he would be younger enough to play in thier kids team along with scholes, giggs, chuckle and co.
With the injuries we having and also not knowing the future, he would be a good stop gap.
Are Cook, Marwood, Kidd and Manchini trying to take the club backwards. The fella Viera does not meet the preferred age profile or has Cook changed this?
Young blood and hopefully, not some ageing Italians all have failed in the past at City so why more?
Would he bring a winning mentality and great experience... YES, Would I want him in the side instead of De Jong...NO
Where would he play and who's place does he take...??? Maybe Centre back...???
We need strengthening at the back first IMO.
Lets hope the rags can get the horse trader back from ipswich and we can have a proper ding dong in the semi finals
NEVER BOO A BITTER , SALE , VIRTUALLY FREE ?. ONLY GOING FOR THE MONEY YOU THICK BLUE.
What's with the 31% who don't want him? Are you people insane? This is the business half of the season now. What's wrong with having a seasoned puppetmaster in midfield to help guide us to the Champions League and Wembley? I'm sure if Mancio felt Vieria was passed his sell-by-date, he wouldn't touch him with a bargepole and we can always give him back in May if it doesn't work out - not like there's a transfer fee involved.
Just think of the benefits Nigel DJ will get from having someone around him with all that experience.
Imagine it, City 2-1 up on aggregate in the 2nd leg, there's five minutes to go, Salford keep pushing forward, then Patrick Vieira wins the ball, sees Carlitos making a run up-field, threads an inch-perfect pass straight at Tev's feet, Tev scurries to the edge of the box, beats two defenders, looks up, swings his left arm out, powers a right-foot bullet low into the far corner of the net...
Can you hear the noise? ... Can you hear it? ... Can you?
I can.
The top eight would love us to destablelise the dressing room by signing the elephant Viera.
a bit like the owen deal at the swamp no risk, pay as your play so to speak, up to now owen as cost the rags about £30,
Viera - Great Player with bags of experience and still only 33. |can he do a job for us, yes he obviously can if reports are true. I expect that Mancini has been looking at what he has got and has decided that he should be OK to get through to the summer with what he has and still finish top 4. This way if he succeeds he can then buy the players he really wants rather than buy players now in January who are probably not in their current first teams and therefore not the best. Remember we are still a club that MAY finish top 4, nothing gauranteed.
Viera would be a useful addition in my opinon as Kompany is a Centre Half and we have lost MJ for the season. Why not if the deal is right, plus he is a winner and brings tha mentality to the team and is tall!. Lets not forget the guy really needs to impress to make sure he is in the French WC Squad!!!.
I still suspect we will see a promising centre half signed regardless, bu no left backs as we have 3 all capable of doing the job for now.
he is a born winner and he could be a valuble squad player.
it's a gamble but so was bellamy
Maybe you can go out and get Petit, Ljungberg and Pires as well
Im happy with Viera coming in on a loan deal its a no brainer for me especially with Toure going to the African nations it allows Kompany to slot in at centre half leaving Viera as competition to De Jong for the holding role.
No, please no. If he's that good a signing then how come Wenger isnt going for him ???? Too slow and not enough games. Scott Parker please.
Andrew Shaw at 14:19
true, but kompany is likely to be playing central defence, and not only is vieira taller than de jong and zabaleta but his distribution is better than de jong, and his ability to read the game better than zabaleta. he wouldn't play all the time, clearly... but he has presence, both onfield and in the dressing room, and he would definitely enhance the squad