Arsenal's confusing communication lines

IAN WRIGHT is learning French to help him stay on the same wavelength as new Arsenal favourite Patrick Vieira.

However, Wright has no language barrier with Arsenal's French boss Arsene Wenger, who speaks perfect English, but Wenger has, temporarily at least, gagged himself as far as the media is concerned.

Vieira, the £3.5 million French under-21 international who has already become an idol with the Highbury fans after just eight matches, aims to supply more ammunition for in-form striker Wright in the League Cup replay at home to Stoke tonight.

Wright, back in the England fold at 33 and still scoring as prolifically as ever with 13 goals already this season, says: "Patrick has been a brilliant addition to the team for me.

"He has set up some great chances for me with his passing, especially the goals I got against Middlesbrough and Blackburn recently."

Vieira, who was born in Senegal, has been given the nickname `What' by the Arsenal players. It is his usual reply to their questions as he struggles to learn the English language.

Wright said: "He's trying, but I thought I would have a go at picking up a few French phrases from him at the same time. It can only help our understanding."

Meanwhile, Wenger is still fuming over the false, malicious rumours that emanated last week saying that he was about to quit Arsenal after only six weeks in charge.

Wenger is clearly and deeply hurt after being told of suggestions on football's grapevine that there is an alleged scandal in his private life. But the whispers appear to be a complete invention of the gossip-mongers.

It does not stop Wenger believing that the unfounded speculation has damaged his worldwide reputation, though, and yesterday he refused to hold his familiar pre-match news conference at Arsenal's Hertfordshire training ground.

Assistant manager Pat Rice was left to reveal that Arsenal are virtually certain to be unchanged tonight, with Dennis Bergkamp Holland's hat-trick hero against Wales, John Hartson, Tony Adams, David Seaman, David Platt and Wright all returning unscathed from World Cup duty.

Hart son could be on the bench alongside defender Steve Morrow, a hero of Northern Ireland's superb 1-1 draw in Germany on Saturday.

Troubled striker Stan Collymore is expected to be on the bench when Liverpool face Charlton at Anfield. Manager Roy Evans yesterday cleared Collymore of swearing at reporters at a reserve match following allegations in some Sunday papers.

Collymore scored twice in that game but he is unlikely to push out either Robbie Fowler or Patrik Berger from the starting line-up to face the first division side. Defender John Scales may also miss out as he is struggling with a groin strain, picked up in that reserve match.

Gordon Strachan goes into his first match as Coventry manager in the replay against Gillingham tonight.