Patrick Vieira was a colossus of the Premier League, a commanding French midfielder who combined physical dominance with genuine technical quality. As captain of Arsenal, he was the driving force of Arsène Wenger’s great sides, including the unbeaten “Invincibles” who won the league without defeat.
Tall, elegant and relentless, he controlled matches with his range of passing, ball-winning and surging runs. He won a World Cup and a European Championship with France, and later added Serie A titles in Italy, standing among the finest all-round midfielders of his time.