FOOTBALL: Wenger: My fear for Vieira

PATRICK VIEIRA has been hailed as the perfect role model - by the man who feared he was on the brink of quitting Arsenal due to his terrible disciplinary record.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has admitted for the first time he was petrified the Frenchman would walk out of Highbury after being sent off twice in three days at the start of the 2000-01 season.

But on the eve of another potentially fiery FA Cup clash with Chelsea, Wenger has insisted his skipper has brought his wild temper under control after realising he had to accept a lot of the responsibility for his red-card shame.

Vieira has been dismissed nine times in England - twice against the Blues - but his boss is adamant he can now be considered as the number one midfielder in the world and a star skipper.

Wenger said: "Many people say Patrick is the best in the world in his position and I would not contradict them. But there was a critical phase when he was close to quitting the club.

"For a few years it looked like every incident was an explosive one for him. He felt he was provoked a lot and when he responded he was the only one who was punished. There were definitely moments when I was worried he would leave because of it.

"But after a few days he would see things differently. He is very critical of himself and I think he realised it was also down to his own actions.

"Since then he has done a lot of work and has calmed down. In every challenge he knows he has a responsibility and he has control of his behaviour. He has also done a lot of work off the pitch since he was made captain and he is a very positive guy to have in the dressing room. I must admit I am surprised how well he has grown into the skipper's role."

Wenger went on: "Chelsea will be another game where both teams are fully committed, but Patrick has proved he is not frightened of a challenge. He had surgery on his knee earlier this season and I think he struggled for a while when he first came back, but now he is back to his best - if not even better."

Wenger has also hailed the fantastic displays of Ivory Coast star Kolo Toure at centre-back. "Kolo has been very consistent this season in defence, but I only considered him for that role because of an emergency after Pascal Cygan got the red card against Chelsea in the Cup last year," he said.

Wenger has vowed to play a full-strength team today, with fit- again Dennis Bergkamp set to line up alongside Thierry Henry in attack. Martin Keown, Freddie Ljungberg, Sylvain Wiltord and Jeremie Aliadiere are all injured, while Kanu is unavailable due to the African Nations Cup.

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