Emmanuel Petit Casts Doubts Over Potential Arsenal Return For Patrick Vieira

Emmanuel Petit doubts Vieira return…

Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit seemed to pour cold water on the rumours that Patrick Vieira is set to return in the summer as Arsene Wenger conducts a turnover in his backroom staff.

Petit was asked by the BT Sport panel if he could see an emotional return for Vieira, and the former midfielder revealed that he recently spoke to his compatriot and got the sense that there remained some hard feelings there.

It seems as though the club feels that bringing back a number of legends to work around Wenger will justify handing the boss a new two-year deal, though it may not involve Vieira if Petit is to be believed.

“I spoke with Patrick Vieira before he left for America and he was a little bit upset about the fact that Arsenal didn’t give him the chance to coach in the academy,” Petit revealed.

“It could be (Vieira’s return), but I would be surprised about that.”

Having Vieira around would certainly lift the mood slightly, but what kind of influence could he realistically have has Wenger’s assistant?

We’ve seen the like of Steve Bould and Pat Rice struggle to have any input during their time on the coaching staff and spend most of the game lending an ear to Wenger’s complaints.

If we’re looking for figures to challenge Wenger and lift the burden from him, bringing in former players many of whom owe their careers to the Frenchman will certainly not change much.

If this was to happen, I could see the euphoria remaining until our first defeat. And then, reality will kick in.