Arsenal Football Club

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60432

Vieira fires Gunners warning

20 Jun 2007 - 09:31:07

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Former Arsenal midfield ace Patrick Vieira has warned the Gunners that they could lose both skipper Thierry Henry and manager Arsene Wenger this summer, if they fail to recruit a number of top-class players.

Vieira, now with Internazionale, is worried that the Gunners could lose both men to Barcelona and be left with major gaps to fill.

The France international told BBC Radio Five Live: "If Arsenal bring two or three big names that will show Thierry that they want to compete.

"If that's not the case Thierry will ask himself what is the best for him.

"Thierry wants Arsenal to show that they want to stay at the top of English and European football."

Of Wenger, Vieira added: "I think it will be difficult for him to stay, given what he has done with David Dein.

"David Dein has been really important in the development of Arsenal. I think in the last ten years he and Arsene have worked really hard to put the club where they are now. To see him leave Arsenal, it was difficult to understand.

"Without David I don't think it will be the same for Arsene, because they started it together. And it would be strange for him to stay, but you never know."