Pat’s had an Ek of a rethink

PATRICK VIEIRA admits he has had to wind his neck in over Daniel Ek’s desire to buy Arsenal now he is a Premier League manager.

Gunners legend Vieira (inset) takes his Crystal Palace underdogs to the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.

In May, the former France star trumpeted his support for Spotify cofounder Ek’s bid to K oust the Kroenke family from the club where he once was a midfield powerhouse.

Asked about describing Arsenal as having “lost direction” under the present regime, Vieira said:

Express

“I was just expressing myself as ‘Patrick the exArsenal football player’.

“I am in a different position than I was in a couple of months ago. I can’t express myself in the same way as I did when I was just an exArsenal player.

“The Kroenke family said the club was not for sale, so it was over.”

On Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, another former Arsenal central midfielder, Vieira said: “He reminded me of Didier Deschamps.

“When he was playing, you knew he was going to be a manager. Arteta is of the same mindset.”

Arteta, meanwhile, has laid down the task that lies ahead for Aaron Ramsdale if he wants to challenge Jordan

Pickford to be England’s goalkeeper.

Ramsdale, 23, has made a massive impression since his 35m switch from Sheffield United.

He has dislodged Bernd Leno as the No 1, keeping four clean sheets in five games.

Arteta has warned him he has to keep improving:

“Aaron needs to continue to be humble and think about the things he can improve.

“Then, everything will come naturally, as has already happened early on with him.

“He deserves that,”

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