Arsenal legend delivers damning verdict on Arsene Wenger and current crop of stars

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Former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira has criticised Arsene Wenger for his stance on former players and also the lack of strength, both physical and mental, in the current squad.

The 40-year-old won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups during his time in north London, but failed to get a coaching role at the club later in his career and eventually joined Manchester City.

While Mikel Arteta has since followed him to the Etihad, the likes of Thierry Henry and Tony Adams have recently left the club leaving Freddie Ljungberg and Steve Bould as the only former players who are on the books at the Gunners as part of the coaching staff.

Vieira believes that his former boss would have better served putting in place a structure similar to the one at Ajax, where several former players could have imparted their experience and knowledge to the younger players at the club to help their development.

“I’m disappointed not to have ex-Arsenal players working at Arsenal,” he said, as reported by The Sun.

“It is good for the young players who could see a Thierry Henry, a Ljungberg, a Sol Campbell or a Martin Keown who have been at the club a good few years working in the academy, or working somewhere. I think they can do it a bit more.

“Players want to do it but do not have the opportunity. I don’t understand it.”

Meanwhile, Vieira also took aim at the current squad and discussed the weaknesses that he sees within the group as they continue to fall short of expectations year after year.

Arsenal finished second in the Premier League last year, and have started with just one point from their opening two fixtures of the new campaign this time round.

With a lack of transfer activity too, the pressure is certainly being piled on Wenger from pundits and supporters, as the French tactician continues to keep faith in many players that haven’t delivered consistently enough for him.

“Now when I watch Arsenal, yes they play good football,” he added. “But I just have a feeling they are missing something, the physical presence, the personality.

“But on the other side the team is not doing as good as it used to and you need to win football matches. They’ve been disappointing, losing games they should have won.”

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