Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has spoken highly of the first signing he ever made for the club back in 1996.
The Frenchman was appointed by the Gunners from Japanese club Nagoya Grampus as a little known manager but feels that he earned some respect from the fans for bringing in the then 20-year old Patrick Vieira from AC Milan who went on to be a club legend.
"When you buy your first one and he is the right one it gives you a lot of credit. I arrived here with little credit and Vieira, by coincidence, had the English qualities - he could battle with anybody - and also brought something from the technical French side.
"He had a great combination of the English fighting spirit, the bravery and the technical qualities of a midfielder.
"He is probably the one who gave me most credit and time to convince people that I could manage at this level.""People like Patrick Vieira I have a lot of fond memories of - he was the first player I bought," Wenger said at a Q&A day for fans at the Emirates Stadium.
