Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira challenges players ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal games

Patrick Vieira has admitted recent performances haven’t been the best ahead of season defining games against Manchester City, Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal.

The Eagles are still searching for their first league win of 2023 and are just coming off a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

They also had dependable midfielder Cheick Doucoure sent off in the second half and will now have to find a replacement  for him when they host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City this weekend.

Manchester City are hunting down Arsenal who look like the real deal this season, while Brighton have only one defeat in their last 10 games and battered West Ham 4-0.

Title chasing Arsenal are winning games in the last minute even when the odds are stuck against them but Vieira says it is possible to get points off them if his players have “belief” and stick to their principles.

The Palace boss said: “It’s about us believing in what we are doing. It’s about us being clear about the roles and responsibilities of players on the field. There is always belief and confidence in the players.”

James McArthur who has been denied the enjoyment of being on the field due to injuries made a return in the last 10 minutes at Villa Park to try and help his teammates least snatch a point- but Vieira says it was always going to be tough for him having been out for so long and playing with 10 men.

He added: “It wasn’t easy for him to come back when we were down to 10 men.

“But it was important for him to have the first step in the Premier League after the long injuries that he had.”

Another positive from Villa park was that top scorer Wilfried Zaha returned from injury after missing the last four games. They look a different side when he’s on form.