End in sight for Arsenal captain's contract saga: Jon Brodkin on how the Arsenal midfielder has hinted he will finally put pen to paper for Arsene Wenger.

An end is in sight to the Patrick Vieira contract saga. The Arsenal captain made it clear yesterday if he has not signed an extension by a week today, he will simply see out the remaining year of his deal and leave Highbury for nothing next summer.

Such a scenario would be devastating for Arsène Wenger, who would wave goodbye not just to a hugely influential player but to the millions of pounds Vieira could fetch in the transfer market. Everyone at Arsenal is praying for a happier ending and, prior to tomorrow's Community Shield encounter against Manchester United in Cardiff, Vieira suggested he would sign.

The 27-year-old has spoken similar words on many occasions without putting pen to paper but, with next weekend's deadline fast approaching, there seems genuine hope of a positive conclusion. Vieira will meet Arsenal's vice-chairman David Dein early next week and both parties trust they will reach an agreement.

"I want to get the best deal for myself and the club want to get the best deal for the club and we have to find the middle of it," said Vieira. "We are going to find a solution. I'm not worried at all about that.

"There's no major problem. The club want me to stay and I want to stay.

"That's a good start. Now we are on the way to finalising things. I hope I will sign. If the chairman came to me today and everything was agreed, I would come to his office and sign straight away."

But if matters are not resolved by next Saturday? "I will see out the one year left on my contract."

With that danger looming, the club will surely provide Vieira with what he desires. When it was suggested to the midfielder he was 95 per cent certain to extend his contract, he carefully replied: "You never know, things can happen."

But he claimed that money was not a sticking point and he was satisfied by the club's ambition, despite a summer in which Jens Lehmann has been Wenger's only notable signing at a meagre £1.5m.

"I stay because I believe the club will want to win everything," Vieira said. "Of course I'm disappointed we signed only one person but I believe we are good enough and the way we played last year we were so close. Maybe the experience will help us."

As Vieira talked of his belief that Arsenal can win the Premiership and Champions League, it was hard not to compare their frugal summer compared with Chelsea's lavish spending. But he brushed aside the notion money guarantees success at Stamford Bridge.

"The players they have bought, it's quite exciting for them and quite good, but the big question is whether it's going to work," he said. "As individual players they are fantastic but to win the league you need more than individual quality. Of course when you buy those players you expect to win the league. There will be a big pressure on them."

Arsenal are used to that pressure and Vieira feels the team will thrive. He says it hurt to surrender the title to Manchester United in May and that winning the FA Cup was not enough. Last season Arsenal produced some sublime football but struggled at times to kill off opponents. During this campaign Vieira wants to see the ruthlessness of Arsenal's 1998 championship-winning side.

"Less attractive but more professional," was his suggestion for a team which, by his own admission, tends to "prefer to win 3-2 than 1-0". Arsenal have no intention of abandoning their attacking instincts but realise they need to tighten up for a season in which Vieira expects another strong challenge from United.

"Maybe we conceded too many goals," he said. "Maybe when we are 1-0 or 2-0 up we need to drop (back) and defend more as a team."

He feels Arsenal need to develop United's habit of winning when they are below par but feels the raw materials are in place. "We believe we are stronger than other teams," he said. "Maybe we have less players who can make the individual difference in a game but in a collective way we are stronger than anybody and can beat anybody."

Arsenal have yet to prove the truth of that in Europe, having failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but Vieira is confident they will finally show their worth on that stage this season.

"We know each other more every year and I hope that will help us to progress," he said. "A few years ago we could not win away from home. Last year we could not win at home. This year I hope we can find the balance. We are not far. We are losing games on the minor details."

When Vieira reflected on his life in London and his career at Highbury, he sounded genuine in his wish to commit his future to the club.

"I have had seven years here now and the relationship I have with the boss and with the players is really good, and the relationship I have with the fans I will never find anywhere else," he said.

"I want to be happy where I am and the football aspect is a really important part of that. I want to improve and challenge myself and I know I can do it at the club. But happiness outside football is really important as well and I'm really happy here."

After months of waiting, Arsenal fans want proof of that by this time next week, with Vieira's contract signed.

Guardian Service