Vieira names Manu Kone best midfielder in France and backs Arsenal summer move

Patrick Vieira has thrown his weight behind Arsenal’s reported pursuit of Manu Kone, declaring the Roma midfielder the best in France and backing him to thrive at the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Reports from Italy earlier this month suggested Kone, 25, has already agreed personal terms on a move to Arsenal, where manager Mikel Arteta is looking to strengthen his midfield options. The France international impressed during spells at Roma and Borussia Mönchengladbach, though injuries disrupted the back end of his club season.

Kone arrived at the World Cup qualifiers carrying that stop-start form but quickly reasserted himself. After starting on the bench for France’s Group I opener against Senegal, he reclaimed his place for the second fixture against Iraq and played a part in a commanding 4-0 win. He retained his starting berth against Norway, contributing to a 4-1 victory that gave Didier Deschamps’ side nine points from nine to top the group.

Speaking to ITV ahead of that Norway match, Vieira was unequivocal in his assessment. “He is for me today the best midfielder in France,” the Arsenal legend said. “I’d put him ahead of Tchouameni and Rabiot, because he has this mobility, he is aggressive, he is a ball-winner, and he has the technical ability to be part of the build-up, has the facility with the ball to break lines and move forward.”

Vieira also pushed back on any suggestion that Kone is a purely defensive operator. “I don’t really like that word, water carrier,” he said when the comparison was raised. “He will win the ball, but he has something more than the others, as he can play forward. Sometimes Tchouameni can give you a little bit of frustration, too many passes sideways or backwards, but he’s got more passes going forward.”

Should Arsenal complete the signing, Kone would enter a crowded but high-quality midfield group that includes Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly. His profile as a deep-lying ball-winner with the ability to progress play could make him a natural partner for Rice, potentially allowing the England midfielder greater freedom to push into attacking areas.