Wenger says Vieira will stay at Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his midfield star Patrick Vieira is to stay at the London club.

"The speculation about Patrick Vieira has really annoyed me because there is no way we are going to sell him," the manager told French magazine 'Foot Transferts'.

"No club in the world sells it's very best player if it has any sort of ambition."

"Patrick is simply not available, that is the end of the matter. It is just not possible for anyone to buy him," Wenger reiterated.

FC Barcelona had hoped to sign Vieira and made contact with Arsenal two months ago about the player who was unhappy with his side's lack of progress this season.

The French midfielder has been in talks with Arsenal recently over his future and Barca have been told that any club wanting to sign the player will have to meet Arsenal's £32 million valuation.

But Barca's offers will stop at the £25 million mark which could still see them in business.

Barcelona were at Highbury on Tuesday last week to play in a testimonial for David Seaman and had talks over the future of Vieira who is keen to move to the club rather that leave Arsenal for a possible transfer to Manchester United or Italy.

Arsenal are determined not to sell their leader to United and Vieira is not keen on a return to Italy.

Juventus and Arsenal have already discussed midfielder Vieira's future last week.

"I'm in talks with Arsenal in order to make a decision about staying. Or not," he told sports daily l'Equipe but the London club have already been in discussions with Juve executive Roberto Bettega about the former AC Milan player.

Arsenal expect Vieira to stay with them but the London club's interest in striker David Trezeguet has seen the subject of Vieira raised by the Turin club who seriously covet the French star.

Vieira tells 'L'Equipe' that he has had problems this season at Arsenal:

"That Cup final (Arsenal lost 2-1 with late Liverpool goals) was a symbol of our season," he said.

"Had we scored a second goal, it would have been over. But we didn't. All year we kept losing key matches. I'm not living in the past, but I can say that the 1998 team who won the league and cup double was extraordinary because it had players with character who made the difference," he added referring to Marc Overmars and his friend Emmanuel Petit who were sold to FC Barcelona last year.

Vieira is regarded as one of the top midfielders in the world after an exceptional personal season at Arsenal which has renewed Juventus' appetite to try and sign him but they face competition from FC Barcelona. But Wenger and Arsenal are determiend that he stays with them. He has helped France to an easy 5-0 win over South Korea today at the start of the Confederations Cup in Seoul.