Wenger calls on Vieira to clarify future
Patrick Vieira is under increasing pressure to break his self-imposed silence over his future intentions as the countdown begins to a weekend deadline imposed by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
Wenger does not want the continuing uncertainty over Vieira’s future to cloud Arsenal’s start to the defence of their Barclays Premiership crown at Everton on Sunday.
Even though the Gunners beat Manchester United in yesterday’s Community Shield without their injured captain, the Arsenal boss again appealed for the midfielder to remain at Highbury.
However, Wenger admitted for the first time that he would allow Vieira to leave the club – at the right price – if he handed in a transfer request this week.
And with the transfer window closing at the end of this month, the Arsenal boss wants to be left with enough time to at least search for a replacement.
He has therefore set a deadline of next weekend for Vieira, who has not spoken on the issue at all so far this summer, to commit himself one way or the other.
“Our intention is very clear. Only he can come out and clarify the situation now, and he needs to do that very quickly,” declared Wenger.
“His commitment is not a question mark for me, he has always been outstanding in that. But before the start of the season, we want the captain to be focused on what the team wants to achieve.
“I want him to be part of the future of this team, but I want him to be clear in his mind, whether his heart is with us or not.”
Vieira must carefully judge his next move, as he cannot be certain Real would be willing to match Arsenal’s asking price even if he did hand in a transfer request.
He must also satisfy himself that he is the Spanish club’s main target, given that Marca, the Spanish newspaper with close links to Real, have just linked them with Wayne Rooney.
And Vieira has reportedly not been impressed with the initial wage offer made to his agent by Real, given that it fell well short of what the current ’galacticos’ are earning.
It all adds up to a week of considerable intrigue as the player who could effectively make or break Arsenal’s season weighs up his options.
He may even wish to wait until after the first leg of Real’s Champions League qualifying round tie against Wisla Krakow this week before making his final decision.
After all, just as for United, that game holds the key to the club’s prospects, with Alex Ferguson’s side having plenty to worry about after their 3-1 defeat in Cardiff.
While Arsenal were proving they could win without Vieira, at least on a one-off occasion, United’s defensive weaknesses were broadcast to the world.
With nine players out – and Darren Fletcher also suspended for the Premiership opener at Chelsea – Ferguson has a testing week in store.
His problems were magnified as Jose Reyes lit up the occasion with his flourishing promise.
The Spanish international, who signed from Seville in January, should have put the Gunners ahead just after the break only to hit the side-netting after gliding past Mikael Silvestre and Tim Howard.
However, just a minute later, he broke free again and this time crossed for Gilberto Silva to guide the ball home.
While United’s new signing, the industrious Alan Smith, quickly equalised with a thunderous shot, Reyes put Arsenal back ahead as he swivelled on to a loose ball amid defensive confusion.
Arsenal confirmed their victory as Ashley Cole’s cross was deflected into his own net by Silvestre, with Wenger, who lost Jeremie Aliadiere to injury, paying tribute to Reyes’ growing impact.
“He has not been at the European Championships, so he had a great preparation and it looked from the first day of pre-season that he has grown up and is much more confident,” he said.
“In the first three or four months he looked a bit lean and weak in the challenges, but now he looks strong and brave.”
It all augurs well for Arsenal’s title defence – but only if Vieira stays.
