Vieira: Arsenal didn't want me

Patrick Vieira has revealed he would have been happy to finish his career at Arsenal.

Patrick Vieira has revealed that he would have been happy to finish his career at Arsenal but for the prevarication of vice chairman David Dein.

The midfielder made a £12 million move to Juventus in the summer to bring his nine-year Highbury career to a close although Vieira insists it was Arsenal who instigated the transfer.

Upon hearing of Juve's interest Vieira had sought reassurances from Dein, however the latter's ambiguity left the 29-year-old increasingly disillusioned.

In Vieira: My Autobiography, the Frenchman claims Dein said: "We are neutral. We are giving you the choice of deciding what you want to do."

Vieira insists the club's "neutral" stance left him with a straightforward decision to join the Italian champions.

"I was angry, surprised and upset - I had been at the club nine years," continued Vieira.

"I knew if Arsenal really wanted to keep a player they fought tooth and nail - they didn't leave it up to him to decide.

"I asked Dein what he meant by giving me the choice. He repeated that the offer was generous.

"To me, that wasn't the issue. It wasn't about a good or bad contract - the word that swung the decision for me was 'neutral'.

"'If that is how it is,' I told him, 'whatever happens now, I'm off. And I'll go to the club that I choose - because I will be able to choose.'

"The club had made its feelings known - and now it was a straightforward decision."