Arsenal hero Nigel Winterburn has backed manager Arsene Wenger to bring Patrick Vieira back to the club.

Winterburn, voted among Arsenal's top 50 players of all time, told the Daily Express: "There's no doubt Arsene is the right man.

"When things don't go quite as planned and you don't win things, you'll always get people saying, 'We need a new direction and a change of manager'. But people ought to take a step back and see just how far Arsenal have come since George Graham took over and began moving the club forward.

"What we don't know is the financial restraints that may or may not be. Or that just may be Arsene's policy, the last two years rebuilding with younger players. But if he does not think they will deliver, he is ruthless enough to get rid of them.

"Arsenal must strengthen. They need three or four players, including a strong centre-half, a commanding centre-midfielder and a centre-forward.

"Arsene knows who he wants and knows the price he wants to pay.

"The team need a strong, positive start but three out of the first four away, Everton, and both Manchester teams, are tough.

"Patrick Vieira is immense. He is a proven winner and he would bring back that winning knowledge and mentality at Arsenal.

"You need the right mentality to tough things out when they are not going well, and Patrick certainly knows all about that. It would help the squad, lifting morale.

"He could almost be like a father figure to a young squad."