By Boris Mellor
July 16 2005

According to some press reports Patrick Vieira departed in tears complaining he was pushed out. Others claim that Wenger wanted him out, and called it a ruthless decision.

However Paddy looked like the cat that got the cream as he anticipated winning the CL at the Juve press conference. He hardly looked like a man in trauma Also he has his old chums Thuram and Trez waiting for him. Another ready made French spine. Why not Real? I don’t think he ever got on that well with Zidane, besides Real are a busted flush. Also his reassurances that Arsenal would be ok without him were a sop to any conscience he might have. Sure he is entitled to leave, but he has spun it to make Wenger look the guilty party.

To my mind, there is no doubt that he and Juventus had the game plan worked out well in advance. How could Wenger react? He must be sick of it – he probably decided he had had enough and let him go. He may well have had a plan B in the back of his head for this eventually, but letting your captain go in the first week of training, without a replacement, is hardly great planning.

However adversity is a test of greatness, any fool can do well when everything goes their way, but Wenger has had to cope with this situation, and wrecked pre seasons before, and at the end of the day it is he who has come off the best.

Arsene has called on Arsenal fans not to panic, and on his experienced players to rise to the challenge with more commitment. He also admits that the timing is not the best. Remember that Everton fans thought they would suffer when Rooney (spit) left? Moyes used it to create an us against them mentality and qualified for the CL. Wenger may well use the situation to revolutionise our playing style.

New Players

Wenger has stated the money will be used solely for new players, and already a new bid has gone in for Julio Baptista the Beast. He also says he is looking for one or two more players, quality but not big names. He is not sure when they will arrive, this window or the Xmas one. But he has not named a replacement (he would be foolish to do so), nor has he said who the captain will be. We will be kept waiting on that.

Arsene does not see the situation as desperate, young players now have more confidence and experience, the squad, he believes, has depth. He insists that Arsenal will continue to chase trophies this season. He wants Arsenal fans to trust him, and with his track record we should.

One of Vieira’s complaints was that Arsenal do not sign world class players, so who was that long legged giraffe type player, that nobody had heard of, when Arsene first came to Highbury? Has going to Juve made him forget Henry, Pires, Gilberto, Cole, and Campbell already? I wish you well Paddy, you were great, but great players also look to themselves.