Arsene Wenger is well used to being attacked by fans for the way he runs the club, but now some former players are joining in as well.
According to ex-Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit, the club’s former captain, Patrick Vieira, is “disgusted” with the way he has been treated by Wenger since leaving North London in 2005.
Vieira – who has criticised Wenger in the past for not bringing more club legends into his background team – has gone into management since retiring as a player. But he has had to rise through the ranks with Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Manchester City instead of at the club where he won three league titles and four FA Cups.
And he’s not the only one, with a host of former Gunners being forced to look elsewhere for a break into management, with last season’s captain Mikel Arteta the latest to make the move to the Etihad in order to begin his non-playing career.
Many have criticised the fact that Wenger has so far only offered one high-ranking job to any of the players from the most successful period in the history of Arsenal Football Club, with culminated in the infamous ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003/04.
Even then, that job has gone to a minor player during that time – current assistant manager Steve Bould, who hung up his boots in 1999.
“Why didn’t Arsene open the door to Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira or Tony Adams?” Petit asked, while speaking to SFR in France.
“Arsene couldn’t imagine that anyone would criticise him openly on television, never mind a former Arsenal player.
“It is good to build statues to commemorate history. but at some point you have to open the doors to help them.
“When I see Dennis Bergkamp on Ajax’s bench, it doesn’t bother me, but I remember Dennis has a son in Arsenal’s academy.
“I was with Patrick two days before he went to the USA. There was an event organised by Manchester City in January, and I was one of four players invited by Patrick.
“I spoke with Patrick for two hours and I can say – and maybe he will not be happy that I am saying this in public – he is really disgusted by Arsenal and Arsene’s attitude.”
As alluded to by Petit, Bergkamp currently serves as the assistant manager for his hometown team, Ajax, where he spent 12 years as a player, including five years in the youth team.
Adams, meanwhile, is the current head of youth development at Chinese Superleague club, Chongqing Lifan, after unsuccessful managerial spells with Wycombe Wanderers from 2003 to 2004 and Portsmouth during the 2008/09 season.
Henry has held a coaching role under Wenger, but Arsenal’s record goalscorer was warned that he would have to abandon his role as a pundit for Sky Sports to move any further up the ranks at the Gunners. He has since signed on to be Roberto Martinez’s assistant coach with the Belgian national team.
Photo confirmation of Thierry Henry, Belgium assistant manager. (Source: @BelRedDevils) pic.twitter.com/hzWOxq4orH
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 29, 2016
But as you might expect with Arsenal fans, Petit’s comments have divided opinion.
There are those who believe that Petit – who left the club for Barcelona in 2000 before joining Chelsea a year later – has stepped out of line by criticising his former manager.
I think Wenger is one of the most forgiving managers in football.. Ex players take this for granted… I find the petit article quite funny
— AYOOLA (@ayaj_) August 31, 2016
Have no time for ex players who joined the likes of Chelsea after leaving us. Petit can fuck off
— Ever, Greatest (@goatzil10) August 31, 2016
@OfficialVieira do you remember betraying Wenger and Arsenal by tapping our players for City? Arsene hasn't forgotten. Tell Petit to stfu
— Doctor Fred (@londonfredd) August 31, 2016
Petit and Vieira betrayed Wenger & Arsenal when they left. Why is Petit not asking Barca & Chelsea? He played there https://t.co/k3N5Wn7VNO
— Doctor Fred (@londonfredd) August 31, 2016
Criticism of Wenger is fine but at least be interesting not intellectually lazy with it. All Petit has is ill-informed garbage opinions #afc
— Dumbass Miliband (@DumbassMiliband) August 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/KeenosAFC/status/770901297780367360
But there are still plenty who believe that the Frenchman speaks the truth about the failings of the Arsenal boss to embrace the club’s golden generation.
https://twitter.com/Northbank1968/status/770894449383792640
That Petit article though.
If Wenger's excuse about Henry was because of his gig with Sky, what is the excuse for Viera and Adams?— Charles the 1st (@9jaBloke) August 31, 2016
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