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'No angel' Galloping Vieira is Arsenal's rebel with a cause
LONDON (Reuters) -- A season that started with Patrick Vieira collecting a pair of red cards could end with the Frenchman being handed his second FA Cup winners' medal with Arsenal. When the 24-year-old flung his red and white shirt on to the Highbury turf after being sent off against Liverpool on August 21, his whole future in England was in doubt. The dismissal, for two rash challenges, was the moody Frenchman's second in three days following his red card for a retaliatory elbow on Sunderland's Darren Williams in the opening game of the season. Vieira was clobbered with a five-game ban and, after six red cards in his four years at Arsenal, it seemed English football wanted rid of him. Despite the close season departure of Emmanuel Petit to Barcelona, Arsenal's French connection had remained strong and the club rallied round their totem pole midfielder. "He is no angel," said manager Arsene Wenger at the time. "I know that, but he is very emotional because he is only a human being." Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Gilles Grimandi were also on hand to lift Vieira's Gallic spirit and his response was magnificent. Depressing exitIn his last appearance before the ban started he scored twice in a thrilling 5-3 win over Charlton Athletic. Vieira did not pick up so much as a booking in his next 28 games and scored twice against north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur -- first to earn a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane in a league match in December, then to help Arsenal beat their bitter rivals 2-1 in the FA Cup semifinals. But Vieira's finest performances of the season came in the two legs of their depressing quarterfinal exit from the Champions League at the hands of Valencia. Vieira must have run miles in those two games, prompting attacks with accurate passes, surging forward with the ball, tackling back and winning defensive headers. His team mates could not match his personal excellence, though, and after their elimination on the away goals rule Vieira caused a stir by urging the club to strengthen its squad. His comments served as both a warning that he might leave if they did not and as a hint that he wanted to stay if they did. "I don't talk without a cause," Vieira said. "I think it's important for the club to realize that I only want the best for them, that I am committed to them." Against Liverpool in Cardiff on Saturday Vieira will display that commitment again as he tries to repeat his starring role in Arsenal's 2-0 win in the 1998 FA Cup final win against Newcastle United. Cup specialists Liverpool will be a far tougher challenge and Vieira has not had much joy against Gerard Houllier's side this season. In addition to his August red card he was in the Arsenal side that lost 4-0 at Anfield in December. Saturday offers him the perfect chance to make amends.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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