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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Phillip Cocu has told The People he could have joined Arsenal during his career.
What’s the story?
The former Netherlands international replaced Frank Lampard as Derby County boss in the summer, but before becoming a manager, he had a successful playing career, winning four Eredivisie titles with PSV Eindhoven and La Liga with Barcelona.
He had been talking about those days as a defensive midfielder and said: “I was playing for my first professional club, Vitesse Arnhem, when Arsenal came for me.
“Then, halfway through my career, when I was about to sign a new contract at Barcelona, there was a second chance. But in both cases, the clubs could not agree.
“They have the bigger mentality” – Spurs fans come to blows after the North London Derby in the video below…
Cocu instead of Vieira?
The 48-year-old was with Vitesse between 1990 and 1995 before moving on to PSV and FC Barcelona. He would end up making 540 appearances between the two clubs and also earned 100 caps for his country. It is fair to say he was one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation.
Had he made the switch to north London, he would have no doubt improved the Gunners. However, his arrival may have prevented the signing of the legendary Patrick Vieira. The France World Cup winner joined Arsenal in 1996 just before Arsene Wenger was appointed as the club’s manager.
The two were defensive midfielders, and there is no reason to believe that Cocu wouldn’t have been able to produce the same level of performances in the Premier League as he did in the Eredivisie and La Liga. As such, Vieira’s signing may not have been needed at all.
What would Wenger’s reign look like without the former Juventus hard-man, or indeed the English footballing landscape as a whole?
Vieira had a huge impact on the Arsenal side, and was a part of the famous Invincibles. Would Arsenal have had the same success without him commanding the middle of the park?
Unfortunately, it is a question we will never know the answer to. But it is hard to imagine Arsenal fans crying over the comments. After all, in Vieira, they got their hands on one of the best midfielders in Premier League history.
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