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Vieira keen on new Gunners deal

PATRICK VIEIRA has hinted that he would like to spend the rest of his career at Arsenal.

The Gunners skipper has been continually linked with a big-money move to European champions Real Madrid, but the Frenchman insists he has no desire to leave Highbury as he can achieve all he wants at Arsenal.

Vieira has still to sign a new long-term deal at Highbury, but he admitted he would be prepared to pledge his future to the champions.

"Every player would want to play with Ronaldo, Zidane, Raul and players like them. But for me it's not that simple," Vieira told The Mirror.

"The way I see it is more open. I want to fulfil my ambitions with Arsenal because they are the team that made me.

"When I came here nobody knew who I was but now I am in the France national team. I have played in a World Cup final and won the European Championship.

"So it would mean more to me to win the Champions League with Arsenal than to win it with any other team. This is more important to me than to play with the players we have mentioned.

"So would I like to be here for some time to come? Of course. In a professional way, I love it here. In my private life, I love it here as well. So I don't see any reason to leave.

"My current contract is not up until the end of next season and negotiations will start soon, but I see no reason why I won't sign again for Arsenal.

"We don't talk about the details at the moment because the club knows how I feel about them and the relationship I have with the boss is very good.

"I just want to focus on my football and not think about anything else.

"I don't have any desire to go anywhere else or test myself anywhere else.

"I realise now I have found everything I was looking for in this club.

Meanwhile, Arsenal starlet Jeremie Aliadiere has revealed that he has carrying an injury which could rule him out of action until February.

The Frenchman, who recently scored his first goal for the club against West Brom, admitted he had been playing through the pain barrier for over a month with a groin problem.

The 19-year-old kept the injury a secret from Gunners boss Arsene Wenger as he did not want to lose his place in the first-team squad. The French Under-21 international has been examined by French team doctor Phillipe Boixel and he expects to have his worst fears confirmed.

"The doctor told me he is almost certain that I have a groin strain," said Aliadiere.

"There is no question of me having an operation but I could be out for between two and five months."