Premiership: Highbury stars happy to have Vieira back

Gilles Grimandi and Giovanni van Bronckhorst have confirmed that Patrick Vieira was welcomed with open arms when returning to training with Arsenal yesterday.

Both players have featured in reports surrounding Vieira’s apparent summer of discontent.

Grimandi was one of those who urged his fellow Frenchman to stay at Highbury but was later chastised by Vieira for not having done enough with the Gunners himself to warrant such comments.

Van Bronckhorst’s arrival in north London alongside Francis Jeffers was referred to by Vieira as "two 'hopeful' players who haven’t proved themselves in the Premiership yet".

However, both insist there was no animosity towards the World Cup and Euro 2000 winner as pre-season training commenced.

Grimandi said: "Patrick Vieira arrived back at training and it was interesting to see him back after all the hype of the summer.

"He seemed very calm and content when he arrived at the training centre and was acting perfectly normally as if he didn’t have a worry about anything in his mind.

"There is no problem in the Arsenal group with Patrick, everything was the same.

"We were obviously aware that there’s a lot of interest but it was just business as usual for the team.

"No-one has a problem with him and we were all pleased to see him."

Van Bronckhorst, an £8.5m buy from Rangers, was equally gracious.

He said: "I’ve just finished training with the full Arsenal squad, and it was great to see all the boys, who seem friendly, and good to work with.

"Patrick Vieira was also back with the team, and there were no problems at all.

"Obviously, in the light of all the things that have been reported in the press, and the comments about Patrick, I’m sure people are very interested in what it would be like with everyone getting back together.

"All I can say is that everyone has been fine. Patrick appeared to be very relaxed, and everyone was happy to see him.

"I haven’t been here before, so I can’t say what is normal, but it appeared to me that everyone was acting normally around Patrick."