Patrick Vieira was always going to receive a brilliant reception from the Arsenal fans on his return to the club.
But the rapturous response he got from the Emirates Stadium faithful made you ‘feel sorry’ for Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, talkSPORT has been told.
Vieira returned to face his former club for the first time as a manager when his Crystal Palace team travelled to north London, and nearly caused an upset as Arsenal grabbed a late equaliser to rescue a 2-2 draw against the Eagles.
Supporters chanted the legend’s name in respect for the nine illustrious years he spent at the club, and host of trophies he lifted in their shirt.
talkSPORT’s Ian ‘The Moose’ Abrahams was at the game, and the reporter said the great reception Vieira he was given was in stark contrast to how fans treated Arteta.
Joining Tuesday’s talkSPORT Breakfast, The Moose said: “It was incredible to the point where I felt sorry for Mikel Arteta.
“The song that Arsenal fans always always used to cheer was ‘Patrick Vieira, he came from Senegal to play for Arsenal’.
“The whole of the Emirates sang that song for Vieira. He was clapping, but there was not one single song for Arteta.
“If I was Arteta I would have gone to myself ‘hang on a minute, I’m the manager here. How about one for me?’
“They weren’t singing for him. That [the Vieira chanting] carried on sporadically throughout the game even when Palace were at 1-1.
“You are thinking enough of this now, you manager is sitting there and suffering because his team aren’t playing well and you are singing for the opposing manager.
“I did feel a little bit sorry for Mikel Arteta last night.”
Vieira himself reacted to the reception he was given while speaking to the media after watching his side get a point at the Emirates.
Vieira told Sky Sports: “I spent nine years here. We played really good football at times. I was lucky to be part of a great generation of footballers.
“I’m always going to love this football club, the fans, and I’m always going to be an Arsenal fan I would say.”
However, the former Gunners captain was frustrated not to come away from his return to his old side with all three points.
Alexandre Lacazette added an injury-time goal to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s earlier opener to seal a share of the points, after goals from Christian Benteke and summer signing Odsonne Edouard appeared to have Palace heading for the win.
“I was really pleased with the attitude we showed today on the field,” said Vieira after the game.
“It was challenging in the first 15 minutes but afterwards we managed and controlled the game quite well, that is why the draw hurts – because of the performance we had today.
“I’m really disappointed for my players because they played well, showed a lot of character and personality.
“I think when looking at how the game went and coming back in the second half and scoring two goals, the way we conceded the second one, I think it is two points lost for us and we are disappointed not leaving the stadium with a win.”
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