 VIEIRA: 'Never write off United'
But speaking in an exclusive interview with Eurosport.com, Vieira said that if it comes down to a duel between the pair, Arsenal's experience at making the step from being potential winners to engraving their name on the Premiership trophy will see them triumph.但是接受Eurosport.com的专访中,维埃拉说如果接下来只是这两支球队的决斗,
 "The big advantage we have over Chelsea is the fact that we know how to win the league, because we've done it a few times already," said the France captain, who has three championship winners' medals in nine trophy-laden seasons at Highbury.
The London duo have opened up a sizable gap on perennial challengers Manchester United, the 2002-2003 champions languishing in seventh - nine points behind the second-placed Gunners.
But Vieira admitted the threat from his side's annual sparring partners - who ended the Gunners' famous 49-match unbeaten run at Old Trafford last month - can never be ignored.
"I think we never write Man United off," said Vieira, with Arsenal's squandering of an eight-point lead over United to concede the 2002-2003 title still a raw memory.
"A few months ago, they were saying Arsenal were invincible and now they're saying Chelsea are. It makes the league quite exciting. It's true that Chelsea look really good, but we know if it is not mathematically over, Man United can come back."
DIP IN FORM
A driving force in the Arsenal midfield since Wenger made him his first signing in 1996, Vieira's form this season has stuttered along with his side's, as they surprisingly dropped points to Southampton and Crystal Palace before squeezing past north London rivals Spurs 5-4 last weekend.
But while he admits to being below-par going into Saturday's match with struggling West Bromwich Albion, a care-free Vieira remains convinced it is only a question of time before his performances peak.
 "I'm not worried at all about it. I know what I can do, I know what I can achieve. And I just need to work harder, my best will come. I'm not worried at all about me."
One of the reasons Vieira's dip in form has had little impact on the champions' title defence is the emergence of 17-year-old Cesc Fabregas.
Nabbed from Barcelona in October 2003, the Spaniard stepped in for Vieira when the France captain was laid low early in the season and has profited from injuries to more experienced rivals Edu and Gilberto Silva to now anchor himself alongside the Frenchman in the first team.
"I think he's a really young, talented player," said Vieira. "He can read the game really quickly, but we need to play more together to understand each other more. But the way we've played together so far is just fine." | 
