Article from the Independent

[Peter Delvechio]

Vieira was only twenty when he made his arsenal debut. So they are both of similar age when they hit the premiership.

Cant remember if he hit the ground running or if it took him a season or two to hit the heights?

I think he hit the ground running. I remember Ian Wright at the time talking about how he was getting better service with Viera than he had in a while.

Or did I imagine that?

[red g]

I think he hit the ground running. I remember Ian Wright at the time talking about how he was getting better service with Viera than he had in a while.

Or did I imagine that?

\Well i couldnt believe he started playing for arsenal at 20. I thought he was a lot older than that!!

there are so many similarities between the two its frightening even down to the rate they like to pick up cards!!

[enema of the state]

Quality article.

Thinking back to the game on Sunday I can only think of one thing. Valenica.

Didn't we look like a great unit like they used to under Rafa?

Some of our interchange passing was brilliant and the movement superb. I think Rafa is finally getting us closer to the team he wants us to be.

my thoughts exactly

for the 1st time in a long while v's chelski we were technically, tactically and athletically superior - just like rafas valencia were against gh's reds

[dww]

Vieira was only twenty when he made his arsenal debut. So they are both of similar age when they hit the premiership.

Cant remember if he hit the ground running or if it took him a season or two to hit the heights?

He pretty much hit the ground running but he had Pettit with him, which took some of the physical burden off him in his first season or so. A lot of Arsenal supporters I know thought that when Pettit went the midfield would be left quite weak but Vieira stepped up.

[red g]

He pretty much hit the ground running but he had Pettit with him, which took some of the physical burden off him in his first season or so. A lot of Arsenal supporters I know thought that when Pettit went the midfield would be left quite weak but Vieira stepped up.

Thats right. Petit was the better of the two originally then vieira came into his own. So what we are saying is that vieira at the same age couldnt have had fat fwank, essien and ballack in his pocket

wonder what price player of the year?? or am i getting carried away?

[Shaggy]

Vieira was only twenty when he made his arsenal debut. So they are both of similar age when they hit the premiership.

Cant remember if he hit the ground running or if it took him a season or two to hit the heights?

Not blowing my own trumpet here, but while I always maintained Vieira was "the man", initially Emmanuel Petit got all the plaudits. I used to debate with the lads in the pub...they all thought Petit was the man and Vieira didn't really get too many plaudits to start with.

It definitely took a season or two before Vieira started to become appreciated on a more widespread level and seen as more important than Petit.

Great piece of writing from Mr Lawton, as usual.

[saveferris]

Sissoko showed, on Sunday, why we didnt have to rely on Didi Hamann in the deep lying midfield role.

This is a good article and essentially shows that Benitez is building a good squad, and not relying on specific players.

[Shaggy]

But Sissoko isn't a "deep-lying" or holding midfielder.

[saveferris]

What I meant is that we dont need that role with the way Sissoko plays as he has a lot more energy and is more mobile than Hamann therefore eliminating the need for that role

[Shaggy]

Oh right yeah...see what you mean.

I still think we'll need that player to hover around in front of the back four and Xabi is that man. He plays it differently to Didi though and is what the Italians call "the pivot" - a la Pirlo.

See your point though. Momo's boundless energy means we'll survive without Didi just fine.