French resistance

Some of Arsenal’s French Foreign Legion have not yet signed long term deals with the club, but Xavier Rivoire reports that the signs are good for the North London outfit that they will hold on to their legionaires.

"The Arsenal without the French lot would be the end". The nightmare as described by one English football correspondent almost happened this summer, but how close did the Gunners really come to losing their French contingent and what would happen if one or two Gallic stars were allowed to go 'on a free' at the end of next season? So far, and rather worryingly for many fans, most questions remain unanswered.

Apart from Thierry Henry (who extended his contract as early as last May, pledging his commtiment to the North London club for a further three years), the other triumvirat of French superstars Vieira, Pires and Wiltord has not made its intentions very clear and the contract situation is still quite obscure, even though the English season is about to kick off.