Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira believes his old side “have to win” against Manchester City if they are to stand any chance of toppling the reigning Premier League champions.
Vieira, 48, was the last Arsenal player to lift the Premier League trophy, captaining the north London side to an unbeaten ‘Invincible’ season in 2003-04.
Arsenal have finished second to City in the past two campaigns and trail their title rivals by two points going into Sunday’s game at the Etihad Stadium.
Speaking at the Premier League’s fan festival in Chicago, Vieira, who represented both clubs during his playing career, told The Athletic: “It will be a bigger game, I think, for Arsenal. I think Arsenal will have to perform and will have to win.
“City know how to win these kind of games, so I think there will be more pressure on Arsenal’s shoulders more than City’s.”
Arsenal, who were held to a goalless draw at Atalanta in midweek, will once again be without captain and midfield talisman Martin Odegaard, who missed his side’s north London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend through injury.
Head coach Mikel Arteta said on Wednesday Odegaard will be out “for a while” after sustaining ankle ligament damage on international duty with Norway.
Vieira, who won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups during a nine-year playing career in north London, says Arsenal players will have to step up in Odegaard’s absence.
He said: “It’s a major loss for Arsenal. He’s not just the captain of the team, he’s the leader on the field, the technical leader on the field.
“When he is on the field, players around him feel more comfortable, as well. He’s the one who dictates the tempo of Arsenal and he’s the one who brings this kind of technical ability, this quality in the last 30 yards to create something.
He added: “But, again, if you want to go until the end, players have to take more responsibility and players have to take on a bit more and we will see what will happen.”
Victory for Arsenal on Sunday would see them leapfrog City and potentially go level on points with Newcastle United, who could go top with victory at Fulham on Saturday.
(Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
