Vieira set to stay with Arsenal after new deal

ARSENAL midfielder Patrick Vieira has signed a new three-year deal with the club.

The French superstar has put an end to speculation linking him with Real Madrid and Manchester United by committing himself to Highbury for the next three years.

Vieira will be paid £70,000 a week in an £11 million contract. The 27-year-old's previous contract was due to expire next summer.

"This is a key time for Arsenal the next two or three years will be very important for the club's history," Vieira said. "I genuinely feel lucky to be part of that. I believe in the people I work with. I believe in Arsene Wenger both as a man and as a manager and I am very happy to be part of it all.

"I still feel young and I have a lot of good football left in me. And although people were saying we played some of the finest football they have ever seen last season I still think Arsenal can take their football to another level.

"That is an exciting prospect and the real reason why I am not worried about Arsenal's ability to compete with the biggest clubs in Europe.

"I have just turned 27. I never said I wanted to quit the club and I want to stay here for a long time. I want to win trophies with Arsenal. Our style of play and the players we have here means we are capable of winning trophies.

"We can compete with the four clubs who reached last season's champions league semis Real Madrid, Juventus and the two Milan clubs. What really matters is that this club wants to fight against the best."

Vieira is convinced Arsenal can recapture the Premiership title from Manchester United despite not having the spending power of Old Trafford.

"I want to be part of the future of this club and I want to win the title back for Arsenal," said Vieira.

"I still believe we are the best team in the country and we will continue to prove that next season.

"Other sides will feel that they can keep us down but that will not be the case. Money does not buy team spirit and friendship and that is what we have here.

"There will be people hoping that they will see the break-up of the Arsenal side this summer but I believe that is not going to happen.

"Other clubs can spend as much as they want but we know that we still have enough here to win the title back."

Although he feels Arsenal already has players capable of competing at the highest level, Vieira accepts it would be nice to add to the squad.

"The most important thing is to keep the players we already have at the club before thinking about adding to the squad. Yet the Champions League demands the best and it would be nice to attract more talent to the club."

Vieira does not share the concerns of some Arsenal fans for the club's future.

He said: "It's been tough lately not playing, because that gives you time to think about the disappointment of losing out to Manchester United for the title. It was a bad thing to try and handle. I know the other players will have spent a lot of time thinking about it too - but that is a good thing in my opinion.

"That will make us more of a team, more of a unit and more hungry. There are people who are worried about Arsenal and fans asking will things get worse.

"I just don't have the same worries as them. This is a massive season for the club coming up but they will see how good we really are.

"We will sit down and talk about this and if there are any subjects that worry us they will be sorted out before the season starts.

"Of course I accept that we were beaten to the championship by a great team - but it only makes me want to win it back all the more."

Vieira feels his role as club captain will be key, and he added: "As the Arsenal captain I have a kind of added responsibility to put things back on track and make sure Manchester United do not get used to being at the top.

"The first time I won the English championship I was convinced we could go on winning it for many years.

"That is not to say we were being cocky as the English like to say or arrogant. It was merely a belief that Arsenal had the players to continue winning trophies.

"But as a captain I feel I learned a lot from last season. But I think we all know now that it is not just enough to play great football. We lost the momentum during the most vital part of the season and I am sure we will not make the same mistake again."

Argentina goalkeeper Sebastian Saja insists that he could be an Arsenal player within seven days. The San Lorenzo stopper believes the clubs have already agreed a transfer fee.