Former Manchester United midfielder and pundit Roy Keane has said he has “huge respect” for the job Patrick Vieira has overseen at Crystal Palace this season. It comes ahead of the Frenchman facing his old side Arsenal in search of another key three points.
Vieira took on the job at Selhurst Park last summer, inheriting a thin squad with a number of senior players leaving and the threat of relegation potentially looming large again. However, that has not been an issue, with the side sitting comfortably in 12th and in the semi-finals of the FA Cup too.
The former midfielder will face Arsenal once again on Monday, getting his side ready to play against the team he enjoyed nine years with as well as carrying the captaincy. When the two sides played earlier this season, it ended in a 2-2 draw thanks to an Alexandre Lacazette equaliser deep in stoppage time.
READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Saka's return, Ramsdale's injury, Saliba's form and celebrations
It could prove an important point for Mikel Arteta and the Gunners come the end of the season, despite not being on their game on the day. It was something that the Spaniard discussed in his pre-match press conference while lauding Vieira: “We scored right at the end," he said.
“It was a really tough match, we struggled for some periods, we conceded two very poor goals in that game with simple giveaways that put the game into a really difficult position. It’s a team who, especially at home, are doing really well. Patrick and the coaching staff are doing a great job and we know how it is to play in that stadium.”
The Arsenal coach will be hoping he can register a win on Monday, needing as many points as possible in the race for the top four, with tough fixtures against Manchester United, Chelsea, West Ham and Tottenham all still to come. In Palace they face a tough challenge though and the praise hasn’t just stopped with Arteta.
Ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane has also praised the job done by Vieira, despite being old adversaries in the midfield in their playing days. Speaking on the Overlap, he said: “He’s done ok [laughs]. No he’s done great and listen I have huge respect for Patrick [Viera] and had great battles with him and I’m not surprised how well he’s doing.
“I get Patrick’s had a little bit of experience before he went to Palace and I think we all looked when he got the job in the summer and Palace and we were all probably thinking ‘this is a tough job here’ following Roy Hodgson and issues with players and a lot of players contracts are up but also I thought it was a good time to get in there, players contracts are up and he can get rid of a lot.
“I think he’s recruited well, they’re playing a lovely brand of football. Probably should’ve won one or two more games in terms of the league, couple of draws they’ve slipped up but Patrick’s done well and of course the cup run then is a bonus, but the priority for Palace was probably to stay up and get mid-table and he’s done a good job.
“Huge respect for Patrick but again he’s done well this year the bigger test for Patrick will be coming up in the next few years, the next season or two when he’s set high standards. Can he keep it going? But I wouldn’t begrudge Patrick a bit of success, far from it.”
It shows just how far the Eagles have come in such a short amount of time and fires a warning shot at Arsenal ahead of a tough match on their return from international duty. A victory could go a long way to securing the Gunners’ Champions League qualification.
