CAPTAINCY CARROT FOR VIEIRA

In the absence of injured Tony Adams, the French midfielder will lead The Gunners out in Athens on Wednesday night in a crucial Champions League clash against Panathinaikos.

And Wenger is optimistic that the lure of skippering the side on a regular basis next term will be enough to persuade him to commit his long-term future to the North London club.

"Making Patrick captain shows him how much we want him to be at the club," he declared.

"He will be sensitive to that. He knows what an honour it is to captain Arsenal.

"He loves the club deeply. I still see him as the long-term successor to Tony Adams, and this will be an occasion that demands leadership. Patrick is not really a loud talker, but he is beginning to take charge of things around him."

The wily French coach is also hoping that the added responsibility which goes with the armband could help Vieira to improve his poor disciplinary record.

"Being captain helps you with the referee. You can talk more," he continued.

"If he tells you to shut up, you can say: 'I have the right - I am the captain'."

With Adams, Sol Campbell and Gilles Grimandi all missing, it is likely that Matthew Upson will be given the nod in the heart of the Arsenal defence - a prospect which Wenger is perfectly comfortable with.

"He really needs to play a few more months without injury to put it all out of his mind and to be confident again," he added. "But he does have all the attributes to be top drawer."