Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira was one of the best captains in Premier League history, and one of the best players North London has ever seen.
The Frenchman is a footballing icon, having succeeded at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, whilst he also won the World Cup with France and enjoyed successful spells at some of Italy’s biggest clubs.
Vieira was a true leader with the armband as Arsenal won the Premier League undefeated in 2004, but out of his three league titles, this was the only one he won as club captain.
The legendary Tony Adams was the captain for the other two titles Wenger won, and the centre-back commonly referred to as ‘Mr Arsenal’ has a statue outside the Emirates Stadium.
Vieira has now praised the former England defender for his leadership, revealing what he was like in the dressing room as a leader.
Patrick Vieira praises Tony Adams leadership at Arsenal
Speaking on the Stick To Football Podcast, Vieira claimed that Adams was a player who would get the best out of others because of his vocal leadership style.
“He was the main man, just the way that he was standing there in the dressing room, or when he was leading the team walking through the tunnel, he was a true leader,” Vieira stated.
“He’s a true leader. That’s what I call a real captain, he would take all the responsibility, he’s really vocal and on the field of course he’s got this kind of leadership, he’s driving the players, but I loved Tony and how he was in the dressing room.
“I think he’s the type of player who makes everybody, especially the defence, better, because of the way that he’s communicating with them,” Vieira added.
Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira are Arsenal’s two greatest Premier League captains
There is not a shadow of doubt that Adams and Vieira are Arsenal’s two greatest captains of the Premier League era.
Both are the only captains to win a league title with the armband on, and both played hugely significant roles in multiple title wins.
Adams scored an iconic goal against Everton to wrap up the title in 1998, whilst Vieira scored the opener at Tottenham Hotspur when Arsenal won the league at White Hart Lane in 2004.
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They are two of the most fiery characters in Arsenal’s history, and two of the best players in their respective positions that the club has ever had, and Wenger helped both get the best out of each other in a glorious trophy-laden spell before Adams retired in 2002.