Vieira: I want the best for Arsenal

Vieira: Linked with a host of top clubs

Patrick Vieira says he will not be leaving Arsenal until at least 2004 after fears arose he wanted to quit the Premiership in the wake of the club's Champions League exit.

The Frenchman has again repeated his warning to the club not to lose their best players, as he believes they did last summer in selling Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars to Barcelona.

From time to time, players will have a moan but I don't talk without cause

  Patrick Vieira

But he insists he is not about to quit Highbury and says he was not speaking out of frustration in the wake of the Gunners' European elimination by Valencia.

"I want to make it clear to every Arsenal fan that I have no intention of going to Italy or anywhere else," he said.

"I became a better player after coming to England under Arsene Wenger so why should I even consider leaving Arsenal?

"The people at this club know what is going to happen. It is very clear to them that I want to stay at Arsenal."

Vieira added: "From time to time, players will have a moan but I don't talk without cause. I think it's important for the club to realise that I only want the best for them, that I am committed to them.

All I said was that it was a mistake to let Petit and Overmars go

  Patrick Vieira

"If anyone thinks that because I say things it means I want to leave, then they are wrong.

"I have a contract until 2004 but who knows what will happen after that? I could be here for years to come. I know that more success is round the corner for Arsenal."

Vieira insisted none of the Highbury board or management team censured him for his outspoken comments in Valencia after Arsenal's Champions League elimination.

"All I said was that it was a mistake to let Petit and Overmars go," he said. "What I meant was that, in Europe, you have to keep your best players."