THE TALK.

ARSENAL. POSTED BY RICHARD OSLEY.

SAY what you want about Arsenal right now but through the defeats and disappointments, they never fail at one thing: finding a young player who misguided fans can draw madcap comparisons to former captain Patrick Vieira.

Of this, Arsenal, unwittingly, reign supreme.

On Saturday, it was Emmanuel Frimpong's turn to be compared to the great man, following in the footsteps of Lassana Diarra, Alex Song and Abou Diaby. This sicky semi-racist checklist in the stands goes something like this: Is he tall? Does he tackle tough? Is he black? Sometimes, like in the case of Diarra, you don't even need to be tall, you just need to be tough and black and play in midfield. Note: Mathieu Flamini was a spicy tackler in a similar mould to Vieira, but had long, wavy brown hair. He was never called the New Vieira.

Poor old Frimpong, a man mountain with a no nonsense scowl. His card was marked from the moment he mistimed an early challenge against Liverpool. New Vieira. New Vieira. All as if Vieira contributed little more to Arsenal than running around the middle of the pitch kicking people. And shouting. And scowling.

Maybe the tweets and supporter chat is just part of the overall slow-penny realisation that without a new Vieira, Arsenal's wait for a trophy will go on and on. There is a desperation to find a new Vieira bound to end in the same frustration as the fruitless efforts to uncover a new Bergkamp (Bentley), a new Henry (Adebayor), a new Adams (Senderos).

The symbolism is there: it was Vieira's penalty in an FA Cup final shootout (round about the time of the Vietnam War or the first Bond film or the plague if you believe the overreaction to ARSENAL'S TROPHY DROUGHT in the nationals) against Manchester United that marks the last time the Gunners won something.

And it is true, he has never been adequately replaced, despite the efforts of the stringof New Vieiras that Arsenal have employed.

But that's because you can't replace a unique talent like Vieira. At his peak, he was the greatest midfielder Arsenal has ever had. He broke up enemy attacks and started the Gunners own assaults with a devastating ability that has been matched by few. Being young, gifted and black does not make you a New Vieira? Arsenal fans should tear up the checklist and stop comparing the current players to the old. The gulf won't be closed like that.

5.45PM August 22, 2011

THE TALK is where our football writers share their views on Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.