10 Greatest Foreign Premier League Players Of All Time
5. Patrick Vieira
Arsene Wenger had just become Arsenal manager in the summer of 1996, and the first thing he did was sign Vieira from AC Milan for £3.5m. He was just 20 at the time, but there was clearly something special about him. He became a truly brilliant signing, and one of the greatest players in the history of the north London club. Immediately the Frenchman showed that he could handle himself against the best Premier League teams, and it was soon clear that he was maturity into the complete midfielder. He forged a wonderful partnership with Emmanuel Petit in the middle of the park, and at the end of his second season at the club, Vieira had won the league and cup double. In 2002 Wenger made Vieira his new skipper, following the retirement of Tony Adams, and the 1998 World Cup winner was perfect in the role. He was a born leader, and he made the Gunners truly formidable. Having won the Premier League in 2001/02, Arsenal gifted United the title in 2002/03. They were desperate to avenge that in 2003/04, and what followed was one of the greatest achievements in the history of English football. Vieira captained Arsenal to an unprecedented 38-game unbeaten season in the league, and the title winners were deservedly dubbed the 'Invincibles'. For all the genius of Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, it had been Vieira who was the key behind the success. For a time he was the best midfielder on the planet. He left the club in 2005, having tucked away the winning penalty in the FA Cup final shootout against United. It was a fitting finale for the brilliant Frenchman.
