Dare You To Move

Expect similar scenes to happen

this season if Vieira makes a return to Arsenal.

The Return?

Patrick Vieira, once captain of The Gooners, is rumoured to make a sensational comeback with the club despite leaving Arsenal for Juventus in 2005.

The Arsenal fans, I’m sure, would be pleased as hell. I believe United fans would be somewhat caught between two minds – Vieira could somehow conjure some captain’s performances or his possible re-signing could offer us another opportunity to kick Arsenal’s arse all over the park again despite them having him back in the squad. The latter would have United fans rubbing our hands in glee.

Nevertheless, Vieira will add more bite and steel to Arsenal’s midfield that has been over-reliant on Cesc Fabregas, without much doubt. Arsenal’s past few seasons had hinged on Fabregas’ form; if he was on song, the Premier League rivals would be in for some tough time. Thankfully though, we have managed to shackle Cesc and kept his influence at bay when the two teams met since the post-Vieira days.

*Audere est Facere (lit: "To Dare Is to Do")
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tottenham_Hotspur_Football_Club

It was reported in The Independent that Tottenham Hotspur, Birmingham and Paris St-Germain (PSG) have expressed interest in signing Vieira with Spurs’ manager Harry Redknapp eager to bring the player to White Hart Lane. At this moment in writing, Vieira could possibly be on his way to The Gunners’ most-hated rivals, Tottenham Hotspur. Given some surprise turn of events in the last few weeks, nothing is done and dusted until the player signs on the dotted line. The flirtation with Spurs, however, is a deadly act; so much so that he would be labeled a Judas (if he slips on the white jersey of Spurs) by the Arsenal faithfuls. *To dare is to do, but should Vieira literally take Spurs’ club motto to heart (and sign for them), we would be witnessing one of the biggest football controversies in our lifetime. This is akin to Paul Ince signing for the Scousers back in his playing days. I know some United faithfuls have never gotten over this act of ‘betrayal’; I was still a bit too young to fully comprehend the magnitude of this event but I can’t really blame those who still harbour negative sentiments towards the self-proclaimed ‘Guv’nor’.

Above all, it is indeed a big moment for both the player and fans, but instinct tells me that Vieira would want to end his career with a club that had made him what he is today. Why risk the wrath of your fans in your swan song as a professional player at 33 years of age?

Too bad we are not able to witness the classic confrontations again between Keano and his long-time midfield nemesis since Keano has traded his boots now for a managerial role. Perhaps Keano would contemplate coming out of retirement just to put Vieira at his place; this purely is the stuff of fantasy, one which will never happen again however much I want it to. The much-publicized scenes of Keano confronting Vieira (for attempting to intimidate Gary Neville) at the players’ tunnel several seasons ago make a beautiful reminder and have never been swept away from my memory until today.

Whichever way you look at it, the United versus Arsenal games would now have more spark and hostility should Vieira be back with the Gooners once again. The possibility of Giggsy or Rio getting head-to-head with Vieira makes an exciting thought, one which Keane would certainly be keen to sit up and watch with interest.

We dare you to move (to Spurs), Mr. Vieira!