Arsenal: Patrick Viera The Perfect Idol For Granit Xhaka
Arsenal’s big summer signing Granit Xhaka has stated that Patrick Viera is his idol. He is the perfect Gooner for Xhaka to model his game on.
Arsenal have a host of legendary players – especially in recent history under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger – to emulate one’s game upon. The likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Tony Adams have inspired a generation throughout the footballing world, with young kids looking up to their wondrous abilities with the hope of one day repeating their success.
Like every other child who dreams of playing football, the Gunners’ latest midfield addition, Granit Xhaka, also had a hero who he looked up to and admired. That man, though, is more than just a hero or idol, he is the perfect player for Xhaka to model his game on.
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I am obviously talking about Patrick Viera, the captain of that great Invincibles side of the early ’00s. Xhaka, as a fellow hard-tackling, physically imposing midfielder, revealed on Thursday that he saw the giant Frenchman as a role-model as he grew and developed, his eyes opened wide at the possibilities of a career in football:
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the Premier League. I always used to watched the games on TV and if I really had to pick one [an idol], it would be Patrick Vieira. He is an idol, a role model, especially here at Arsenal. He was also a world-class player for his national team and he played in the same position as me, so I would pick him.”
Viera is the absolute perfect idol for Xhaka and Arsenal. Ever since his departure, Wenger has, for reasons that have not yet surfaced, wavered from his initial thought of acquiring both technically and physically talented midfielders. Not only was Viera technically proficient, blessed with a ranging style that was as majestic as a wilderbeast in full flight, he was powerful, both in the air and on the ground, winning tackles, protecting the ball and dominating the middle of the park.
The Gunnes have not had that much needed player since then, and while Xhaka is not as tall or rangy as Viera, standing at only 6-foot-2 in contrast to the giant 6-foot-5 former captain, he does play with a physical intensity that reminds many of the man he trying to emulate.
Xhaka enters an Arsenal midfield without much versatiliy. Many of the players are built out of the same mould. Xhaka’s mould is Patrick Viera, and if he develops into half the player Viera was, then Wenger has made a very astute signing indeed.
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