Robert Pires has set his sights on earning a contract with an English club after starting to train with Arsenal.
Free agent happy to be training with Arsenal
Robert Pires has set his sights on earning a contract with an English club after returning to London to train with Arsenal.
Pires has been a free agent since being told in May that his contract with Villarreal would not be extended.
Having spent six successful seasons with the Gunners earlier in his career, he was invited to train with his former club earlier this month.
The French midfielder, who turns 37 later in October, is grateful for the chance and hopes to find a new club in the near future.
"I spent six beautiful years at Arsenal. London became my home and I knew I would come back," he told
L'Equipe Mag.
"On a professional level, I can imagine continuing my career here.
"Arsenal have offered me the opportunity to train and I can't thank Arsene Wenger enough."
"I am working with the reserves and sometimes with the professional group, which is perfect."
Options
While admitting he will retire in January if he is still without a club, Pires insists he could play on for a couple more years.
His preference would be to stay in England and he would welcome offers from any ambitious Premier League club or even a Championship outfit such as Queens Park Rangers.
"England is probably the place where I have the more chances to find a club," he explained.
"In England, people don't look at your age. In Spain it was not the case, which is why I had to say goodbye.
"Even for a club like Birmingham or Stoke City? Of course, if I have an opportunity from Aston Villa, I will rush.
"But I will analyse any proposition. I don't want to go anywhere and fight every weekend for salvation.
"QPR? I would be attracted. I am not necessarily looking for a six-month contract. I could imagine myself playing much longer.
"I will give myself until January 31. If at the end of the winter transfer market I have not found a club, I will hang up my boots."
Maturity
Arsenal have not won any silverware since Pires left in 2006, with their last major trophy actually coming a year earlier in the FA Cup.
However, Pires believes they are ready to end the drought this term, saying: "This year I can feel the Arsenal group has reached maturity.
"I believe the players have grown, got experienced. Today that group can be candidates to win titles again."
