DAVID SEAMAN has warned Patrick Vieira he will be making a huge mistake if he quits Arsenal.
The Gunners legend insists the Premiership is the best league in the world and urged Vieira not to be mesmerised by the bright lights of Real Madrid.
Seaman, 40, developed into arguably the world’s finest goalkeeper during 13 years at Highbury and moved on after 564 games as a decorated member of the Marble Halls of Fame.
And he believes Vieira needs reminding, before it is too late, that his career is best served by staying put.
Madrid finally went public in their bid to lure the Arsenal skipper to Spain yesterday after weeks of covertly courting the France midfielder.
But Seaman, Arsenal’s sixth longest-serving player, said: “I would tell him to stay — and as an ex-Arsenal player I want him to stay.
“The Premier League is fantastic. Everybody wants to come and play here. England is the place to be at the moment.
“I’ve never played abroad but I wouldn’t want to go out there. A few years ago Italy was where everybody wanted to go, then Spain came along, now it’s here. So why go anywhere else?
“It’s a different way of life but, for me, it’s play your football here.
“Patrick is under contract, so it comes down to how much does he respect Arsene Wenger or how much do they respect Patrick Vieira?
“There’s always speculation surrounding Arsenal players.
“It’s not anything special about Patrick, it’s just that he is in a great side.
“I don’t know his mind at the moment and what his ambitions are.
“At the moment it all depends on what he wants. At present he is focusing on getting fit for the season and then seeing what happens.
“I don’t want to see him go, he’s a fantastic player and a fantastic guy as well. I’ve not seen a lot of what’s going on because I’ve only just come back from holiday in Portugal.
“All I’ve seen is stuff on TV with Arsene Wenger saying he’s not going anywhere. And Wenger tells you the truth — whether you like it or not, it’s the way he deals with things."
Seaman retired in January this year with three League titles, three FA Cup winner’s medals and a European Cup Winners’ Cup winner’s medal.
But the big one, the European Cup, eluded Seaman in all that time — as it has Vieira.
And the Frenchman feels as much frustration as boss Wenger that Arsenal have failed to survive beyond the quarter-finals.
The question in Vieira’s mind is whether he has a better chance to win the Champions League with Madrid.
But the so-called Galacticos, Real’s collection of megastars, failed last season to win anything for the first time in five years.
At 28, Vieira’s peak is approaching and he is tempted to make the biggest move of his career and play for the biggest name in world football before the slow slide begins.
Or does he stick with the manager who showed enormous faith by bringing him to England in 1996 from AC Milan and then grooming him into a truly world-class player?
Seaman, speaking at the PFA’s annual golf challenge, said: “Maybe after eight years he thinks it’s time for a new challenge.
“Patrick has adapted well. Whereas before he was getting wound up by players and getting sent off, he’s learnt from all that.
“He has now become a great player. That has made him more attractive to other clubs. It’s a simple fact.”
Last season Vieira gushed about his pride and passion playing for Arsenal after an historic campaign.
The Frenchman celebrated climbing new heights by winning his third Premiership title having gone unbeaten throughout the whole 38-game campaign.
Seaman added: “Patrick’s a big influence on the team, maybe not as big as he likes to think, but he is an important member of the Arsenal team.
“And you can’t question his commitment.
“And he’s big enough to call me ugly as well!”
大卫－希曼表示，他不相信维埃拉会在这个夏天离开阿森纳而加盟皇马。作为前阿森纳的队长，希曼在今年
1月份退出了球场。对于法国人离开海布里的传闻，希曼表示对此并不在意。他认为这不过是媒体炒作出来的东西，并没有什么真实性。
希曼表示，他不相信维埃拉会加盟皇马。即使这样的事情真的发生了，希曼坚信阿森纳在英超的能力依然会相当出众。“阿森纳并非一个人的球队，”希曼告诉天空体育的记者说，“他们每个人都是让人心花怒放的球员，当维埃拉受伤或者停赛的时候，他们也能取得好成绩。”但希曼坦言，如果维埃拉走人的话，这对于阿森纳将是个重大的损失。维埃拉在希曼眼中也是一位伟大的球员，但他认为维埃拉哪儿也不会去。虽然媒体每天都声称维埃拉要离开海布里，但事实上什么事情都没有发生，而维埃拉和阿森纳之间仍然有合同在身。俱乐部方面也无意放走维埃拉。
希曼认为，就算维埃拉加盟皇马，这并不意味着他获得欧洲冠军杯的机会就会大些。在有些自信过头的希曼心中，阿森纳和皇马是可以相提并论的豪门。希曼解释说：“我认为阿森纳在冠军杯的成绩已经每每取得进步了，但我并不认为皇马就比阿森纳好。在上赛季皇马表现很糟糕，而阿森纳却以38场不败的纪录成为英超的冠军。”
[此贴子已经被ARSENAL14于2004-7-30 19:26:09编辑过]
