a_shearer
04-07-2000, 03:53:AM
Highbury French connection lures Pires
By Ian Ladyman and Martin Lipton
Arsene Wenger launched Arsenal's bid to topple champions Manchester United on Monday by signing France hero Robert Pires and opening contract talks with Patrick Vieira.
Pires was flown to London in a private jet to put the seal on a £5million move from Marseille only hours after setting up David Trezeguet's golden goal winner against Italy in Sunday's Euro 2000 Final in Rotterdam.The 26-year-old winger continued his hectic schedule by flying to Paris to enjoy his nation's victory celebrations.
The signing of Pires is likely to signal the end of Marc Overmars' career at Arsenal. The Dutch winger admitted last week that he was pondering his future but his departure would be softened if Pires' international teammate Vieira agrees to a new five-year contract.
The 23-year-old midfielder has been the subject of interest from Juventus this summer but has begun talks about a deal worth £40,000-a-week. It would make him Arsenal's highest earner but would tie him to the club for what should be the most productive years of his career.
Vieira said last night: 'I'm really happy at Arsenal, especially now that I'm a regular in the national side. I have to thank Arsene Wenger for this. It's great when you can have a conversation with the coach and learn something on the pitch.
'I want to thank him and everybody at the club because now I'm playing my best football ever.'
The move for Pires came out of the blue as the Frenchman had declared in the wake of Sunday's 2-1 triumph that he would be heading for Real Madrid.
But Pires was attracted to Highbury by Wenger and the presence of countrymen Vieira, Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Petit.
Pires, who has signed a five-year contract worth £17,000 a week, said: 'The past month has been like a dream for me, firstly to win Euro 2000 with France and now joining such a great club as Arsenal.
'I have great admiration and respect for Arsene Wenger, who has transformed the careers of my fellow countrymen Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Gilles Grimandi and, of course, Nicolas Anelka. I'm very much looking forward to playing here.'
Wenger also completed the £6m transfer of Brazilian midfielder Edu yesterday. Having already spent £7m on Cameroon Lauren from Real Mallorca, the Arsenal manager has paid out £18m in pursuit of United, a figure likely to increase with the signing of Brazilian defender Edmilson from Sao Paolo in the coming days.
Injuries cost Wenger dear last season and he found his squad not to deep enough to cope. He conceded last week that Sir Alex Ferguson's side will set the standards again next season and that Chelsea have bought well in bringing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Mario Stanic to Stamford Bridge. 'We will again be challenging for the Premiership title and hoping to make further progress in the Champions League,' said Wenger.
He added: 'I'm very pleased to have signed Robert Pires and Edu. Both players are very talented, versatile midfielders with fantastic ability who will give us an extra dimension in facing the demands of the season.
'We are hoping to add one more name before the start of the season.'
The end of Euro 2000 will spark increased transfer activity in the Premiership as managers begin to shape their squads for the new campaign. Arsenal and Chelsea have been the biggest spenders so far and as well as capturing three foreign signings, Stamford Bridge manager Gianluca Vialli has persuaded French defender Marcel Desailly to sign a two-year extension to his contract.
The 31-year-old was another member of the victorious France side and was particularly outstanding against Italy.
Doubts over his future at Chelsea have been around for some time but now he looks set to play what will be the last four years of his career in London after signing an extension that will tie him to the club until 2004.
Desailly, aware that he had one big-money move left in his career, needed to be reassured that Chelsea wanted glory as much as he did and really were determined to end United's domestic domination.
Vialli and chairman Ken Bates - desperate to be remembered as the man who presided over a first Chelsea championship since 1955 - promised they did and produced the signings to prove it.
The Frenchman said: 'I have signed a new contract and I'm happy. Now people can't say I don't like England any more! This is my answer. Many other clubs were looking for me but I'm really happy to stay.
'Next season we will try to put everything into the championship. The club are buying big players and spending a lot of money. I'm happy about that. We need the title for our supporters.'
By Ian Ladyman and Martin Lipton
Arsene Wenger launched Arsenal's bid to topple champions Manchester United on Monday by signing France hero Robert Pires and opening contract talks with Patrick Vieira.
Pires was flown to London in a private jet to put the seal on a £5million move from Marseille only hours after setting up David Trezeguet's golden goal winner against Italy in Sunday's Euro 2000 Final in Rotterdam.The 26-year-old winger continued his hectic schedule by flying to Paris to enjoy his nation's victory celebrations.
The signing of Pires is likely to signal the end of Marc Overmars' career at Arsenal. The Dutch winger admitted last week that he was pondering his future but his departure would be softened if Pires' international teammate Vieira agrees to a new five-year contract.
The 23-year-old midfielder has been the subject of interest from Juventus this summer but has begun talks about a deal worth £40,000-a-week. It would make him Arsenal's highest earner but would tie him to the club for what should be the most productive years of his career.
Vieira said last night: 'I'm really happy at Arsenal, especially now that I'm a regular in the national side. I have to thank Arsene Wenger for this. It's great when you can have a conversation with the coach and learn something on the pitch.
'I want to thank him and everybody at the club because now I'm playing my best football ever.'
The move for Pires came out of the blue as the Frenchman had declared in the wake of Sunday's 2-1 triumph that he would be heading for Real Madrid.
But Pires was attracted to Highbury by Wenger and the presence of countrymen Vieira, Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Petit.
Pires, who has signed a five-year contract worth £17,000 a week, said: 'The past month has been like a dream for me, firstly to win Euro 2000 with France and now joining such a great club as Arsenal.
'I have great admiration and respect for Arsene Wenger, who has transformed the careers of my fellow countrymen Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Gilles Grimandi and, of course, Nicolas Anelka. I'm very much looking forward to playing here.'
Wenger also completed the £6m transfer of Brazilian midfielder Edu yesterday. Having already spent £7m on Cameroon Lauren from Real Mallorca, the Arsenal manager has paid out £18m in pursuit of United, a figure likely to increase with the signing of Brazilian defender Edmilson from Sao Paolo in the coming days.
Injuries cost Wenger dear last season and he found his squad not to deep enough to cope. He conceded last week that Sir Alex Ferguson's side will set the standards again next season and that Chelsea have bought well in bringing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Mario Stanic to Stamford Bridge. 'We will again be challenging for the Premiership title and hoping to make further progress in the Champions League,' said Wenger.
He added: 'I'm very pleased to have signed Robert Pires and Edu. Both players are very talented, versatile midfielders with fantastic ability who will give us an extra dimension in facing the demands of the season.
'We are hoping to add one more name before the start of the season.'
The end of Euro 2000 will spark increased transfer activity in the Premiership as managers begin to shape their squads for the new campaign. Arsenal and Chelsea have been the biggest spenders so far and as well as capturing three foreign signings, Stamford Bridge manager Gianluca Vialli has persuaded French defender Marcel Desailly to sign a two-year extension to his contract.
The 31-year-old was another member of the victorious France side and was particularly outstanding against Italy.
Doubts over his future at Chelsea have been around for some time but now he looks set to play what will be the last four years of his career in London after signing an extension that will tie him to the club until 2004.
Desailly, aware that he had one big-money move left in his career, needed to be reassured that Chelsea wanted glory as much as he did and really were determined to end United's domestic domination.
Vialli and chairman Ken Bates - desperate to be remembered as the man who presided over a first Chelsea championship since 1955 - promised they did and produced the signings to prove it.
The Frenchman said: 'I have signed a new contract and I'm happy. Now people can't say I don't like England any more! This is my answer. Many other clubs were looking for me but I'm really happy to stay.
'Next season we will try to put everything into the championship. The club are buying big players and spending a lot of money. I'm happy about that. We need the title for our supporters.'