Vieira going nowhere

Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira has once again pledged his future to the Gunners - this time adding that he would still stay at Highbury even if Arsene Wenger moved on.  

Vieira has been linked with a move to Italy in recent weeks while Wenger, whose contract ends in 2002, has been tipped for a return to Japan as national coach.

But Vieira insists that his only wish is to help Arsenal topple Manchester United at the head of the Premiership, and he believes continuity could be the key to achieving that task.

The 24-year-old French international told the Daily Star: "I have a coach who is teaching me a lot, but I want it to be known that my Arsenal future is not linked to that of Arsene Wenger's.

"But I do not believe Wenger was ever going to leave for Barcelona anyway and I would be very surprised if he left at the end of the season.

"All I am concerned about is that there is still a difference between us and Manchester United.

"United have a better team than us because they are more consistent. In recent years they have changed only one or two players in the summer while for us it has been a lot more and that has made a difference.

"But although we can not win the Premiership this season I do not feel it is the end for this current Arsenal team."