Patrick Vieira left a big vacuum at Arsenal when he departed to join Juventus, France striker and former club mate Thierry Henry said on Monday.
Vieira joined the Serie A club in July after nine years with Arsenal in the English Premier League.
"It's just inexplicable," Henry said of Vieira's departure.
"You have to live in England to understand what it means," he added as France prepare to meet Ivory Coast in a Friendly international in Montpellier on Wednesday.
Henry said the whole Arsenal squad mourned Vieira, who had joined the London club in 1996 from AC Milan.
"I remember, he left a 14th of July. During two days, there was something missing in the training camp," he said.
"We lost a great player in Patrick but most of all a great buddy. He was like our older brother. People will never forget he wore Arsenal's shirt."
However, Henry believes Spain's Cesc Fabregas has the talent to replace Vieira, if not in the fans' hearts, on the pitch.
"I think Fabregas will take over," said Henry, who has succeeded Vieira as Arsenal captain.
"When Ian Wright left the club everybody was wondering who would fill the blank, then Nico [Nicolas Anelka] arrived and when Nico left, I arrived.
"When Marc Overmars left, it was the same question, and Robert Pires came along."
