Afternoon:
10°c
David Cameron will today vow to take on the "scandal" of public drunkenness and alcohol abuse that costs the NHS £2.7 billion a year
More...
Vieira will sign new contract
By Steve Stammers, Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 08.08.03
Patrick Vieira: Signing imminent
Patrick Vieira plans to sign his new contract with Arsenal early next week.
The news was the perfect lift before Arsenal's Community Shield curtain-raiser against Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday.
"I will be seeing the chairman on Monday or Tuesday next week and I'm confident everything will be sorted out and I will sign my new contract," said Highbury captain Vieira.
"All along I have wanted to stay at the club," he added.
His manager Arsene Wenger said: "I very am confident the contract situation will be sorted out before the start of the season."
Meanwhile, Robert Pires is also close to agreeing a new deal.
Arsenal kick off their bid to win back the Premiership title from United with a home game against Everton on Saturday week.
