Wenger sure Vieira will start season

ARSENE WENGER has declared his confidence that Patrick Vieira should be fit to start the new season – having signed a new contract by then to secure his Arsenal future.

Vieira was due back at the training ground today along with Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord and Robert Pires, who were similarly allowed to rest while their team-mates took part in an Austrian pre-season tour.

The Arsenal skipper missed the end of last season due to a knee injury which he then aggravated at a concert, requiring him to have surgery over the summer.

However, Wenger believes that Vieira could take some part in the friendlies against Celtic on Saturday and Rangers three days later, before starting the Community Shield against Manchester United on August 10.

According to a deadline set by himself, the Frenchman would need to have agreed a new contract by then to extend his stay at Highbury.

He has just one year left on his existing deal and Arsenal could not afford to allow him to leave on a Bosman free transfer next summer.

Wenger is nevertheless as confident as ever that Vieira, with whom he was due to hold further talks this week, would sign a new deal even if his personal terms would seem to be above the normal Arsenal pay barrier.

“Of course we will need to see Patrick, but the news from France where he has had three weeks of hard work after the operation is very positive,” Wenger said.

“I am looking for him to perhaps play one half against Celtic. As for his contract, I am confident he will sign before the start of the season.”

There is no doubt sure to be some negotiating to be done before then, but retaining Vieira at Highbury has effectively been Wenger’s top priority this summer.

The Arsenal boss also has some fresh injury worries, with Martin Keown and Philippe Senderos having missed last night’s 1-0 win in a friendly against Besiktas in the Austrian town of Bad Waltersdorf.

Keown is hoping to recover from a groin injury in time to face Celtic and Rangers, but 18-year-old Senderos is due to have a scan on a damaged calf muscle.

At least Wenger has been impressed with the way Kolo Toure, Jermaine Pennant and Dennis Bergkamp have all been performing lately.

He was also encouraged with the displays of new signings Jens Lehmann and Stuart Taylor against the Turkish side as they shared the goalkeeping duties.