Caz
2nd May 2007, 10:44 AM
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira believes the club's future is assured despite the shock departure of David Dein.
Inter Milan midfielder Vieira, who spent nine years with the Gunners before joining Juventus in 2005, admits he was taken aback by the vice-chairman's decision to leave the club due to "irreconcilable differences" with the rest of the board.
The 30-year-old - while believing manager Arsene Wenger's long-term future is under question because of Dein's exit - feels the Gunners' future is healthy because of the wealth of young talent although he rules out a return to the Premiership.
Speaking at a Ford 'Feel Football' event in Milan, Vieira said: "I don't see myself going back to England. I am getting old! I am happy where I am and I will stay here for the end of my career.
"But as a club, Arsenal are developing good young players and I feel the future is very, very bright for them."
Gunners manager Wenger, who signed Vieira from AC Milan in 1996, has promised to see out the remaining year of his contract at the club but remains tight-lipped on his future beyond that.
And Vieira predicts Dein's departure will lead to Wenger asking serious questions about his future at the Emirates Stadium beyond 2008 now his closest ally has departed.
"I believe you need more than one man to make a club, but Mr Dein and Mr Wenger were making all the decisions and one of them is not there any more so you can ask a few questions about the future of the club, and Mr Wenger's long-term future, certainly," Vieira added.
"They started together and they have been together a long time and I can't see Arsene finishing the job by himself.
"Now, if he finishes for himself or if he leaves, I just don't know."
The differences are understood to be over the direction and ownership of the club, with Dein believed to have favoured the involvement of American billionaire Stan Kroenke, which put him at odds with Arsenal director Danny Fiszman and also chairman Peter Hill-Wood.
Vieira admitted the news had still come as a massive surprise.
"It was a big shock to hear that David was going, I didn't really believe it. I said 'that's not possible'.
"I really had to ask people if it was real because I didn't believe it. He has been there a long time and it is difficult to know how he left the club so quickly."
Inter Milan midfielder Vieira, who spent nine years with the Gunners before joining Juventus in 2005, admits he was taken aback by the vice-chairman's decision to leave the club due to "irreconcilable differences" with the rest of the board.
The 30-year-old - while believing manager Arsene Wenger's long-term future is under question because of Dein's exit - feels the Gunners' future is healthy because of the wealth of young talent although he rules out a return to the Premiership.
Speaking at a Ford 'Feel Football' event in Milan, Vieira said: "I don't see myself going back to England. I am getting old! I am happy where I am and I will stay here for the end of my career.
"But as a club, Arsenal are developing good young players and I feel the future is very, very bright for them."
Gunners manager Wenger, who signed Vieira from AC Milan in 1996, has promised to see out the remaining year of his contract at the club but remains tight-lipped on his future beyond that.
And Vieira predicts Dein's departure will lead to Wenger asking serious questions about his future at the Emirates Stadium beyond 2008 now his closest ally has departed.
"I believe you need more than one man to make a club, but Mr Dein and Mr Wenger were making all the decisions and one of them is not there any more so you can ask a few questions about the future of the club, and Mr Wenger's long-term future, certainly," Vieira added.
"They started together and they have been together a long time and I can't see Arsene finishing the job by himself.
"Now, if he finishes for himself or if he leaves, I just don't know."
The differences are understood to be over the direction and ownership of the club, with Dein believed to have favoured the involvement of American billionaire Stan Kroenke, which put him at odds with Arsenal director Danny Fiszman and also chairman Peter Hill-Wood.
Vieira admitted the news had still come as a massive surprise.
"It was a big shock to hear that David was going, I didn't really believe it. I said 'that's not possible'.
"I really had to ask people if it was real because I didn't believe it. He has been there a long time and it is difficult to know how he left the club so quickly."