Former skipper feels players weren't committed until the very end
Former Arsenal midfielder has admitted he was 'surprised' at the Gunners' collapse to allow Newcastle to clinch a draw with them on Saturday.
Arsenal astonishingly blew a 4-0 lead at half-time to end up drawing 4-4 by the final whistle, a potentially costly scoreline in their challenge for the Premier League title.
Vieira, now at title rivals Manchester City, was the last Arsenal player to lift a trophy for the club - when he was captain as they won the FA Cup in 2005.
The 34-year-old former France skipper concedes that he understood the fans' frustrations as their title challenge stuttered again, but feels they must keep the faith in their ability and stay committed until the final whistle.
"Like everybody else I was quite surprised (by the result)," said Vieira.
Commitment
"It does show that in football if you don't work hard until the last minute, if you don't have 100% commitment, anything can happen. Newcastle is still a difficult place to go to.
"I think Arsenal is still a great side, a fantastic team to watch.
"The fans have been a bit disappointed in the last few years but they have to keep believing in themselves because they're still a good side."
Speaking of City's challenge, which got back on track with a 3-0 win over West Brom on Saturday, Vieira insisted everyone at the club still believed they could end the season as title-winners.
"I think when you play at a big club like City and when you look in our dressing room at the players involved in the team, the target has to be really high," Vieira said.
"But from what happened at the weekend, you can see that anybody can beat anybody. We still believe in ourselves and we just have to keep believing in ourselves and try to win games."
Arsenal astonishingly blew a 4-0 lead at half-time to end up drawing 4-4 by the final whistle, a potentially costly scoreline in their challenge for the Premier League title.
Vieira, now at title rivals Manchester City, was the last Arsenal player to lift a trophy for the club - when he was captain as they won the FA Cup in 2005.
The 34-year-old former France skipper concedes that he understood the fans' frustrations as their title challenge stuttered again, but feels they must keep the faith in their ability and stay committed until the final whistle.
"Like everybody else I was quite surprised (by the result)," said Vieira.
Commitment
"It does show that in football if you don't work hard until the last minute, if you don't have 100% commitment, anything can happen. Newcastle is still a difficult place to go to.
"I think Arsenal is still a great side, a fantastic team to watch.
"The fans have been a bit disappointed in the last few years but they have to keep believing in themselves because they're still a good side."
Speaking of City's challenge, which got back on track with a 3-0 win over West Brom on Saturday, Vieira insisted everyone at the club still believed they could end the season as title-winners.
"I think when you play at a big club like City and when you look in our dressing room at the players involved in the team, the target has to be really high," Vieira said.
"But from what happened at the weekend, you can see that anybody can beat anybody. We still believe in ourselves and we just have to keep believing in ourselves and try to win games."
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