PATRICK VIEIRA has hailed Declan Rice as Arsenal’s next great leader.
And the legendary Invincibles captain is backing England star Rice to help end the 22-year wait for a Prem crown.
Three-time champion Vieira says Rice has all the attributes shared by himself and Tony Adams — and MORE.
Vieira said: “I’m a big fan of Rice. He’s a complete midfielder. When I watch him, I see he’s got this kind of mobility.
“He can go forward. He can win the ball, he’s really powerful and one of the best around.”
Club captain Martin Odegaard is facing a six-week injury lay-off.
Welcome offer
Get a £50 welcome bonus when you join Sun Vegas and spend £10
WILD OFFER
Win a 2024 Ford Ranger Wildtrak plus £2,000 cash from just 9p with our code
And Frenchman Vieira, 49, said: “When I was at Arsenal, you had Tony Adams, who was the heart of Arsenal.
“He was really vocal, really impressive.
“I was different. I was more reserved.
“So there is a different type and profile of leadership of heart.
“That style is different from Declan.
“But at the same time he’s so technical, so elegant.
“He shows the same leadership but in his own way.”
Genoa boss Vieira believes Mikel Arteta’s side now have the same mental resolve that made Arsene Wenger’s men unbeaten record-breakers in the 2003-04 season.
Speaking to SunSport as he helped unveil the shortlist for Europe’s Golden Boy award, the 1998 World Cup winner added: “That’s always got to be the club — because that’s part of Arsenal.
“I don’t think it’s just one player, like me or Tony or anyone else. That’s part of the DNA of Arsenal Football Club.
“When I watch this team, honestly, nobody could say Arsenal lost the passion of the heart. I’ve seen the passion of Mikel Arteta on the bench, there is this desire to compete and to win.
“Since Mikel has been there, the club has made a step forward.
“Now they are really competitive. They have been for the last couple of years but they are on a good path to win the league and to compete with anyone.
“The difference this time is the recruitment in the summer.
“Over the past year or two, you could see when they are missing one or two, three players, it was quite difficult for them.
“They had to beat Manchester City and then Liverpool, when dropping any points was so costly.
“But if they are missing one or two, they can bring in the new ones and still be competitive. That’s the difference.”
Vieira is one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever midfielders.
His tussles with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and above all Roy Keane, became the stuff of legend, a series of epic showdowns that helped define the Prem for a decade.
Vieira smiled as he recalled: “With Gerrard, with Lampard, with Paul Scholes, with Keane, our generation were not just holding midfielders.
“We all wanted to carry the ball, beat people, create and score goals.
“I arrived at Arsenal when I was 20.
OMAZE-ING
I went from council flat to winning £4m house… But this is why I’m selling up
BOTTOMS UP
Wetherspoons reveals opening dates of 5 new pubs starting next week
“There were tackles that got me red cards. Or I’d lose the ball and we conceded a goal.
“But the strength of Arsene was to have seen this for a month and to continue to give me this confidence that helped me to make a career.”
Read the full article here