Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has criticised Arsene Wenger for not giving ex-players a chance to stay at the club and says Patrick Vieira in particular is "disgusted" by the trend.

Petit, 45, was part of a formidable midfield partnership with Vieira at Arsenal but said he is sad to see that Vieira, currently New York City FC coach, and other ex-Gunners have had to go elsewhere to get their break in coaching.

"Why didn't Arsene open his door to Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira or Tony Adams?" Petit asked on SFR Sport. "Arsene couldn't understand that anyone might criticise him openly on television, especially a former Arsenal player.

"It's all very well to build statues to commemorate former players who made the club shine but at some point you also have to know how to open doors to give them a start.

"When I see Dennis Bergkamp on the Ajax bench, it doesn't bother me, but I say to myself that Dennis had his son at Arsenal's academy."

Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit were an important part of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side. Getty

Vieira won seven major trophies with Arsenal between 1996 and 2005 but when his playing career ended his first coaching role came at the academy of his last club Manchester City.

"I was with Patrick two days before he left for the United States," Petit said.

"I spoke for two hours with Patrick that evening and I can tell you -- and maybe he will not be happy that I am saying this in public but it's all the same to me -- he is really disgusted by Arsenal and Arsene's attitude. I'm sorry but that's the truth."

Vieira has previously said he was disappointed that Wenger did not offer him a role at the club and in an interview with The Times earlier this month he said: "Players want to do it and, not having the opportunity, they feel disappointed."