Patrick Vieira has told Arsenal that he wants to leave because he needs a new challenge after five years at Highbury. The France midfielder, who is currently on holiday in the United States, told the Sunday Mirror newspaper that he had informed Arsenal that he did not intend to sign a new deal and that he wanted to leave to fulfil his personal ambitions.
"I had a meeting with Arsene Wenger and the club's vice-chairman David Dein two days before I went on holiday to America," Vieira was quoted as saying.
"I told them I was not going to renew my contract for a third time, that I wanted to leave and that it was nothing to do with money because that was not an issue to me.
"This is not about Arsenal, but about my personal ambitions as a player.
"I felt, and people should respect this, that I need a new challenge after five years at the club.
"I feel if I go to a new environment I can raise my game to a new level.
"I expect Arsenal to stand by a verbal agreement they have with me and I expect this to be sorted out before I return from my holiday."
The Sunday Mirror said that Vieira had informed Arsenal of his decision to leave the club following their defeat by Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup final a year ago. According to the newspaper, Vieira had only been persuaded to stay on the basis of a verbal assurance that the club would agree to his transfer request if he still wanted to leave at the end of the following season.
Vieira was disappointed at Arsenal's failure to mount a serious title challenge last season and their Champions League quarter final exit prompted him to publicly criticise their transfer policy. Although Arsenal have spent over £18m in the last ten days on Everton striker Francis Jeffers and Rangers midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst, it seems that Vieira has made his mind up.
He looks to be on a collision course with Arsenal who issued a statement on Friday saying the player was not for sale at any price. The Sunday Mirror quoted a "close friend" of Vieira's as saying that the player would be prepared to go on strike if Arsenal stood in his way.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
