Arsenal news: Patrick Vieira 'sickened' by Arsene Wenger attitude, says Emmanuel Petit

Petit criticised the Gunners manager for closing the door on a number of the club’s ex-stars

Patrick Vieira with his former manager Arsene Wenger (Getty)

Patrick Vieira is “sickened” by Arsenal and Arsene Wenger’s attitude to the club’s former players, according to Emmanuel Petit.

Petit launched a scathing attack on the Gunners manager and criticised Wenger for closing the door on a number of the club’s ex-stars.

This follows Thierry Henry's departure from the club after Wenger demanded that the Frenchman leave his position at Sky and focus on his role as a coach at the Emirates.

Henry refused and has since gone on to secure a position as the assistant coach of the national Belgium side.

Speaking to SFR Sport, Petit said: “I was with Patrick two days before he went to the USA. There was an event organised by Manchester City in January, and I was one of four players invited by Patrick.

"I spoke with Patrick for two hours and I can say - and maybe he will not be happy that I am saying this in public - he is really sickened by Arsenal & Arsene's attitude."

Wenger also lost Tony Adams from his coaching staff this summer after the ex-player snubbed the chance to coach the U-18s in favour of a lucrative job in China. Adams follows the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Mikel Arteta who have also moved elsewhere to start out their coaching career.

Petit added: “Why didn't Arsene open the door to Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira or Tony Adams?

“Arsene couldn't imagine that anyone would criticise him openly on television, never mind a former Arsenal player.

“It is good to build statues to commemorate history but at some point you have to open the doors to help them.

“When I see Dennis Bergkamp on Ajax's bench, it doesn't bother me, but I remember Dennis has a son in Arsenal's academy.”

Thierry Henry in his new role as Belgium's assistant coach (Getty)

Petit will reunite with some of his former team-mates, including David Seaman, Marc Overmars and Freddie Ljungberg, at the Emirates on Saturday for a friendly match as the ‘Arsenal Legends’ line up to take on Milan Glorie.

New York City FC manager Vieira will not be at the Emirates and Petit’s comments suggest it is unlikely that the former skipper will ever return to the club.