Gabby Agbonlahor believes Crystal Palace sacking Patrick Vieira ‘will help Arsenal’ ahead of their Premier League clash. The Eagles fired the Gunners legend after 20 months in charge.
Arsenal play host to Crystal Palace on Sunday with Paddy McCarthy to take interim charge of the Selhurst Park natives. Eagles chairman Steve Parish felt forced to fire Vieira with the south London club now winless in 12 games. Their last victory was also on New Year’s Eve.
A run of three-straight defeats over Crystal Palace’s recent Premier League games has now cost Vieira his job. They may sit 12th in the table but the Eagles are only three points clear of the relegation zone. Five of the eight teams sat below them also hold one game in hand.
Crystal Palace sack Vieira ahead of visiting Arsenal on Sunday
So, Parish sacked Vieira this Friday morning ahead of Crystal Palace visiting league-leaders Arsenal on Sunday. The Gunners won 2-0 at Selhurst Park on the opening day of the term. Gabriel Martinelli and an own goal by Marc Guehi gifted Mikel Arteta’s side the ideal start.
Vieira had frustrated Arsenal during Crystal Palace’s two matches against the Frenchman’s former club as a player last season. The Eagles held the Gunners to a 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium only after Alexandre Lacazette’s late reply. They then took a 3-0 win on home soil.
Agbonlahor feels the Eagles’ attacking players let Vieira down
Yet while Arsenal required Lacazette’s stoppage-time equaliser for their only point against Crystal Palace last term, the Eagles’ form – particularly in 2023 – has now seen Parish sack Vieira. The south Londoners have only scored five goals during their 12-game winless run.
Crystal Palace have also failed to score in their past four Premier League fixtures ahead of visiting Arsenal without Vieira. So, former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor claims the Eagles’ forward players have let the Frenchman down. Yet Parish may rue firing the Gunners icon.
“It’s a strange decision,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT. “Yes, they’re 12th, three points above the relegation zone.
“But when I watch Palace, they look like a team who are playing for the manager. They’ve drawn too many games. The strikers haven’t put the ball in the back of the net. Sometimes these decisions can backfire.
“You look at the game against Arsenal on Sunday, this will help Arsenal. The players will be upset that Vieira has got the sack. The attacking players let him down.”
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