No going back for Vieira

Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has rubbished reports he will return to the north London club – but admitted the Gunners are missing him.

Arsene Wenger has insisted selling Vieira to Juventus was “not a big mistake“, even though Gilberto recently admitted the psychological effect which losing his former midfield team-mate had on the squad.

Indeed, without Vieira, Arsenal have already fallen out of title contention, lagging 24 points behind leaders Chelsea after last night’s 0-0 draw with Manchester United.

But the Frenchman scotched weekend reports that he may be considering a move back to Arsenal.

“I know what I want from myself and I know what way I want my life to take. I have signed a long contract with Juventus because these are the most decisive years of my career and they may well be the last team that I play for,” he said.

“I wanted to play the best years of my career for a side that would help develop my ambitions and Juventus have allowed me this. My first few months here have been very, very good.”

The France international told the London Evening Standard: “I left London because there was nothing else left to stimulate me. I am 29 and still at the top of my career. I have reached my peak physically and tactically.

“It’s even better than I expected. I like the life I’m living and I like the city I have chosen to live in, and the people.”

Vieira left Highbury last summer for £13.7m (€16.5m) as the club agreed to cash in on him at the age of 29, rather than fighting to keep him as they had done in previous seasons with Real Madrid.

“I don’t want to appear presumptuous but I really do think that my absence has been felt [at Arsenal],” added Vieira.

“They have certainly suffered psychologically since I left. Maybe it’s because they haven’t fully understood the reasons why I left or maybe they are only just beginning to understand.”