Gunners quiet on Vieira speculation

Arsenal were tonight facing up to the unsavoury prospect of life without Patrick Vieira as the French World Cup winner seemed to edge closer to a move to Real Madrid.

Neither club have made any official comment despite a radio station in Spain reporting that Real president Florentino Perez and Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein had negotiated a £23.1m (€35m) deal for the midfielder.