Patrick Vieira thinks Arsenal is the best (20.10.2001)
LONDON,
Arsenal FC skipper Patrick Vieira, who has taken the captain`s armband after Tony Adams considers Arsenal the strongest squad he has known in five years at Highbury. However the Gunners are the second in the Premiership. Now they have to rule their faith in the Champions League after they beat Panathinaikos FC 2-1 on Tuesday. Arsenal with 6 points from 4 matches is on the second place in Group C.
"I have the feeling it`s maybe the best Arsenal team I ever played in since I joined the club. We have good players in every part of the field but moreover our substitutes are good too. We have a good team in depth.
"It`s not only the 11 players who start but the squad has an amazing quality and density. We have improved a lot since the start of the season.
"This season we are trying to make the game look easy even if it`s not, but we are trying to be in the lead from the start. We managed to do it in the League, we have to do it in Champions League.
"The most
important thing for me is to be the biggest team in your country and to do that you must win the league in that country.
"Since I arrived here, I have lost two finals - the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup - but that is the way to learn. You cannot always expect to win," - Vieira said.
His teammate French international Robert Pires doesn`t share this viewpoint. He believes success in the Premiership should be the immediate priority rather than Euro glory.
"Now we are starting to play well again. We had great results in the league and we have great vibes.
"We have gifted players in every part of the game, we don`t have weaknesses.
"The team is still in a process of being built and it`s starting to be good in the league, which is our main target this season - the Champions League is a bonus," - he said.
Vieira joined Arsenal in 1996, and his debut was made against Sheffield Wednesday. Together with Gunners he has scored 14 goals in 159 matches in the Premiership.
