Patrick Vieira speaks out on Wilfried Zaha to Arsenal rumours
Patrick Vieira speaks out on Wilfried Zaha to Arsenal rumours
Another season, another Wilfried Zaha to Arsenal rumour.
The Ivorian has been linked with the Gunners for many years now, most notably in 2019 when then Arsenal boss Unai Emery wanted to bring Zaha to the Emirates instead of Nicolas Pepe.
With the benefit of hindsight, a move for Zaha would have likely worked out much better for Arsenal, so it is easy to see why they may be interested in him once again.
However, when quizzed on the Arsenal Zaha links recently, Palace boss Patrick Vieira was quick to rubbish them:
“He [Zaha] has been linked after the [Arsenal] game?! There is no truth about that,” Vieira said. “I believe Wilfried [Zaha] is an important player for the team, for the football club, he is a really good inspiration for the young players that we have.
“He knows this club better than anybody else and when he is performing like that, you know you only want to keep your best players. And he is one of them.”
Would Zaha solve Arsenal’s striking issues?
Though Vieira has poured cold water on the rumours, Zaha would likely do a decent job of helping Arsenal out up top.
The north Londoners are seriously struggling for goals this term with main striker Alexandre Lacazette netting just two from open play in the league.
Such poor quality in front of goal, as well as two major injury blows, looks set to cost Arsenal a spot in the top-four.
But as Zaha has scored 10 in 25 for Crystal Palace and is also accomplished on the left-wing – an area Arsenal are short in after the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – perhaps it would be a good time for Arsenal to once again look to Zaha.
