Former captain Patrick Vieira insisted Arsenal are struggling without him but denied he wants to return.Arsene Wenger has said selling Vieira was "not a big mistake", even though Gilberto recently admitted the psychological effect which losing his former midfield team-mate had on the squad.
Indeed, without Vieira, Arsenal have already fallen out of title contention, lagging 25 points behind leaders Chelsea ahead of Tuesday's clash against Manchester United.
Vieira, who is now at Juventus, declared: "I don't want to appear presumptuous but I really do think that my absence has been felt [at Arsenal].
"They have certainly suffered psychologically since I left. Maybe it's because they haven't fully understood the reasons why I left or maybe they are only just beginning to understand."
Vieira also scotched weekend reports that he may be considering a move back to Arsenal.
"I know what I want from myself and I know what way I want my life to take. I have signed a long contract with Juventus because these are the most decisive years of my career and they may well be the last team that I play for," he said.
Vieira's former Arsenal team-mate Emmanuel Petit, who formed a formidable partnership with his countryman early in Wenger's reign, agreed with his old friend's assessment.
"They miss the aura of him. He is a protector for the other guys in the team," Petit told Sky Sports 1.
"I think they are missing this, it is a big part. You always miss players (like that) when they leave.
"You cannot count how much they miss this personality in the team."
Vieira left Highbury last summer for £13.7million as the club agreed to cash in on him at the age of 29, rather than fighting to keep him as they had done in previous seasons with Real Madrid.
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