Vieira fires major Gunners salvo

Last updated : 25 June 2001 By Footymad Previewer
In a verbal assault that would all but end his Highbury career if he was not already determined to leave, the French international midfielder cruelly spelt out his desires by lashing out at boss Arsene Wenger, vice-chairman David Dein - and even his own team-mates. Vieira blasted: "Comparing Arsenal to the big clubs in Europe this season is going to be quite ridiculous. "As far as I'm concerned, the matter is resolved. I am leaving Arsenal and I have made that perfectly clear. "When I told Arsene Wenger I was leaving, he said to me 'I have £25million to spend on a few players'. "My answer was 'Obviously, Mr Wenger, you are not shopping in Harrods. That will only buy you one good player'. Now I have been proved right." Arsenal have swooped this summer to sign Francis Jeffers and Giovanni van Bronckhorst for a fee totaling £18.5million and still hope to recruit Sol Campbell and Richard Wright. Nonetheless, Vieira remains unimpressed, and speaking from his holiday in Miami, he added in The Sun: "Arsene Wenger has signed two 'hopeful' players who haven't proved themselves in the Premiership yet. One of them is a boy of 20. "You can't compete with the best clubs in Europe by making these kind of signings." He added: "It's a miracle that we finished second in the league last season. "I have said it before and I will say it again now - you don't sell your best players. That was why it was a miracle that we got through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. "This season Leeds, Chelsea and Liverpool will be signing new players and will be automatically stronger and better than last season. "I do not honestly see Arsenal finishing in the top five in the league - and you can forget the Champions League. "With £25million in the kitty, Arsenal is not a great European club. With that budget they won't even be among the top 20 clubs in Europe. "I cannot understand why players like Robert Pires, Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord and Gilles Grimandi are saying I should stay. I have given 100 per cent to Arsenal over the last five years. They have only been there for a year or so. "They have won nothing with Arsenal. They should stay and try to win things for the club before they open their mouths. "Maybe after five years with Arsenal they will be saying the same things that I am saying now. "But first they must prove themselves before they are entitled to a move. They haven't produced anything for Arsenal yet. "I will join a club that has the same ambitions as me - a club that is going to win everything."