What is common for coaches Mikael Arteta and Patrick Vieira? Not only did they played in Arsenal (but not together), but they are both fascinated by their former coach, Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman had huge impact on both players, but for different reasons. For Arteta, he was the ‘spark’ which created his wish to be a coach, while Viera says it was Wenger who helped him become a better person. (1.70) ARSENAL (3.80) CRYSTAL PALACE (5.70)25 years ago, Arsene Wenger came from Japan to take over Arsenal’s ‘hot’ bench and soon delivered: Three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups is something Arteta can only dream of. “I think we were all guided and felt a different way about the game because we had Arsene as a manager. He started a fire in us to be a coach. Not only me or Patrick, but many others, with his way of treating everybody at the club and how he felt about the game” explained the Spaniard. (© Phil Cole/Getty Images/Gallo Images)And while Patrick Vieira was actually convinced to be a coach at his final club Manchester City by executives Gary Cook and Brian Marwood, he still cites Wenger as an inspirational figure. “Our relationship is still really good. We keep in touch. He has been watching games and he is always there if I need him. Twenty five years ago, I arrived in a country I did not know a lot about. But I believe both of us came to the right place at right time because we managed to be successful straight away. When I was 20 and working with Arsene he gave me the confidence I needed to express myself. He made me grow as a person and understand how learning from my mistakes would make me a better player and a better person” said Vieira.
