VIEIRA: "I WILL NOT GO TO ITALY"
There were suggestions that the French midfielder had signed a pre-contract agreement with Turin titans Juventus, but the Senegal-born player scotched these claims.
"I can say categorically I will not be signing for an Italian club. I am still under contract to Arsenal so it is illegal for me to say which club I would like to join.
"And it would be disrespectful of me to say which clubs I would turn down. But I have already ruled out Italy."
Hill-Wood believes the opinionated Vieira has gone about matters in the wrong manner and insists that the club will take a firm stand to keep hold of the under-contract French international.
"He wasn't a world-class player when he came to Highbury. Arsene Wenger brought him here and he has been a major factor in his development.
"Patrick is a fine player and I hope he stays with us. But if he leaves Arsenal will survive without him.
"We try to keep the ship steady but things like this test your patience," declared the Gunners chairman.
The 25-year-old midfield dynamo has a contract with the North London side until June 2002, but recent outbursts criticising the ambition of Arsenal and their inability to compete with Manchester United have fuelled speculation that his future may lie away from Highbury and England.
£25 million-rated Vieira maintains that he will decide who his next club will be and not the Arsenal hierarchy.
"Nobody will tell me where to go - not Arsenal, not my agent, nobody," he declared.
"I will only go to a club with the ability to win the biggest prizes every year and the ambition to sign the best players.
"I feel my decision has been made and made public."
Meanwhile another Arsenal star who could be set to leave the Premiership runners-up is Nigerian striker Kanu.
The 24-year-old skilful front-man was a fringe player for The Gunners last season and with the signing of Francis Jeffers and current strikers Thierry Henry, Sylvian Wiltord and Dennis Bergkamp already at the club, the future of the tall striker looks somewhat bleak.
Spanish runners-up Deportivo La Coruna are reportedly weighing up a £10 million bid for the 24-year-old centre-forward as they look to strengthen the squad for next season's Champions League.
