Gunners boost as Vieira and Pires extend contracts

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger yesterday made his two most important signings of the summer as he attempted to upstage bitter rival Alex Ferguson.

On a day when Manchester United unveiled new arrivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Kleberson for a combined £18 million, Arsenal finally confirmed skipper Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires have put pen to paper on new long-term contracts.

As Wenger has been unable to match the spending power of either Ferguson or Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri this close season due to Arsenal’s hands being tied by their plans to move to a new stadium, the deals for Vieira and Pires represent a major coup.