by patrick viera aged 25...how can he be so cruel :-)

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001

Answers

Vieira opens fire on Arsenal

From Ananova Monday June 25, 2001

Patrick Vieira has stepped up his bid to leave Arsenal with an amazing attack on the club's board, his team-mates and Arsene Wenger's summer signings.

The Frenchman insists that he wants a fresh challenge and the chance to win things, dismissing the Gunners as also-rans among Europe's elite.

Indeed, the 25-year-old believes that Arsenal will even struggle to make an impression on the domestic scene next season.

Vieira told The Sun: "People should know this is nothing to do with money.

"I need to leave because I want to win more trophies and I just cannot see that happening at Arsenal. Certainly not over the next few years, anyway.

"Comparing Arsenal to the big clubs in Europe this season is going to be quite ridiculous.

"I do not honestly see Arsenal finishing in the top five in the league - and you can forget the Champions League."

It is thought that Arsenal hoped to keep their star player happy by launching a summer blitz on the transfer market.

However, Vieira sees nothing to be excited about in the arrival of Francis Jeffers, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and probably Richard Wright.

"When I told Arsene Wenger I was leaving, he said to me 'I have £25million to spend on a few players'.

"My answer was 'Obviously, Mr Wenger, you are not shopping in Harrods. That will only buy you one good player.' Now I have been proved right.

"Arsene Wenger has signed two 'hopeful' players who haven't proved themselves in the Premiership yet. One of them is a boy of 20.

"You can't compete with the best clubs in Europe by making these kind of signings.

"Arsene Wenger is an ambitious manager and he knows deep in his heart that he needs five world-class players to compete among the best in Europe.

"With £25million in the kitty, Arsenal is not a great European club. With that budget they won't even be among the top 20 clubs in Europe."

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001

He's learnt more than we thought from his French International colleagues. Sooner or later no-one will be touching any player from the French National side in case they do as much damage as this.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001

Tommorrow he'll be saying french football misquoted him.Wednesday he'll be off to Juventus who haven't been doing as well as Arsenal recently.Thursday he'll say he meant it all after all.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001

Well, if he reckons Arsenal aren't shopping at Harrods what on earth would he reckon to our retail habits - Poundstretcher?

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001

come on Clarky, we've bought another player who's great OFF the ball.Sainsburys.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001

So the fact that we aren't in London or Italy wouldn't be enough to entice Mr. Viera to Toon?

Guess he'll be at PSG next year, then. ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001

Can you imagine the moaning in the dressing room at PSG if they had Anelka, Domi and Viera. Just need Petit and LeBouef and they'd be slitting wrists

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001

And there was me thinking the Harrods reference was to give Jean Tigana a helping hand in persuading Al Fayed to open his wallet.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001