VIEIRA SPEAKS OUT OVER ARSENAL EXIT

The midfield star has been the subject of intense media speculation over the past few weeks, with some reports going as far as to suggest that he has already signed a pre-contractual agreement with Italian giants Juventus.

Vieira claims that he told Gunners chiefs that he would be quitting the club over a year ago and says that he is bemused as to why there has been so much controversy over his desire to leave Highbury.

"I don't know why there is so much fuss. What is it all about?" he queried.

"I had a meeting with Asrene Wenger and the club's vice-chairman David Dein two days before I went on holiday to America.

"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 feel, 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."

Arsenal continue to insist that Vieira must honour his current contract, however, which runs until the summer of 2004, but a close friend of the Frenchman issued the club with a stark warning.

"Patrick is not afraid to go on strike if he has to," he said.

"As far as he's concerned he has played his last game for the club, and he will never kick a ball for them again."

Manchester United are believed to be one of the clubs whose interest will be aroused by the latest developments at Highbury and it now looks as if they could be set to scrap it out with Juventus for his coveted signature.