Patrick Vieira has now claimed that one former Arsenal player could have actually been a better player than him had things turned out differently.
Vieira remains one of the most decorated players in Arsenal’s history, the exact kind of profile Mikel Arteta would love to sign this summer.
The former France international played for Arsenal 405 times, arriving from AC Milan in 1996 and then departing for Juventus nine years later.
During his time in north London, Vieira won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, with a Champions League medal the only one missing from his illustrious career.
So when Vieira, who is now managing Strasbourg in Ligue 1, says that an Arsenal player had the potential to go beyond his own capabilities, it should probably raise some eyebrows.
And that’s exactly what the Arsenal legend said about Abou Diaby when speaking on the ‘Stick to Football’ podcast this week.
Vieira spoke at length about his time at Arsenal, and even opened up on his rivalry with Roy Keane.
But ultimately, Vieira couldn’t end the interview without mentioning Diaby’s name, a true story of what if.
Patrick Vieira says Abou Diaby was ‘more technical’ and ‘complete’ than him at Arsenal
Diaby’s own stint at Arsenal also lasted nine years, beginning in 2006 when he signed from Auxerre for £2m – famously rejecting the chance to join Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
Although having played only 180 times in almost a decade in north London, more than 200 appearances less than Vieira in a similar time frame, Diaby’s Arsenal career was ravaged by injuries.
In that respect, Diaby falls into the same category as Jack Wilshere, two extraordinary talents who were denied the chance to reach their full potential.
And during the podcast, when Vieira was asked if he had managed any players who reminded him of himself he said no, but then discussed the unfulfilled potential of Diaby.
Vieira said: “I used to like Diaby at Arsenal, I think he was going to be an even better player because he was more complete, more technical.
“I think he was more offensive, he had more quality in the last 30 yards and the injuries he had really stopped his progression but Diaby was a really good one.”
Diaby’s time at Arsenal will always be considered as such, a player who could have potentially helped Arsene Wenger lift more honours in his latter years at the club.
All that being said, William Saliba, a current France international playing for Arsenal, was handed a rare start for his country on Sunday.
And French media have now shared their verdict on Saliba’s display.