Ian Wright impressed by former Arsenal team-mate Patrick Vieira’s impact at Crystal Palace

Former Crystal Palace striker Ian Wright has praised the club’s chairman Steve Parish and director of football Dougie Freedman for backing Patrick Vieira.

The Eagles appointed the former Arsenal midfielder in the summer after seeing deals for Lucien Favre and Nuno Espirito Santo fall through.

Palace are now in their first FA Cup final since 2016 after beating Everton 4-0 at Selhurst Park this afternoon.

It opens up the possibility that Vieira could lead the club to silverware in his first campaign in charge – as well as secure European football for the first time in their history.

“He’s learning his trade,” said ITV Sport pundit Wright, who played with Vieira at Arsenal.

“But what you’re pleased about is someone like Steve Parish and Dougie, in giving Patrick the opportunity – is that they had belief in him and what he wanted to do.

“Apparently he interviewed very well. What we’re seeing now with the way they are playing and the way he has changed the way Palace play – he has interviewed well and stuck to his word in respect of what he wants to do.

“He has lowered the age of the players, they are playing a totally different standard of football.

“Patrick is a winner. He is not going to be at Palace and be settled here, he wants to continue to improve so that they try to win things – like the FA Cup and things like that.”