Patrick Vieira not on Wenger's target list
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira is more likely to join Manchester City than hooking up with his former mentor Arsene Wenger back in north London.
Gunners fans hoping that the talismanic midfielder - one of the club's best loved former players - would come back to Arsenal this month are almost certain to be disappointed.
Wenger said he was not in the market for a defensive midfielder of Vieira's ilk. The 33 year-old is set to leave current club, Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, and is strongly linked to a move to Eastlands.
Wenger said: "I will respect Patrick forever for what he has done and what he has achieved here - but we have young players in his position and are not in a real need to bring players in in this position."
The Arsenal manager flirted with the idea of bring Vieira to the Emirates Stadium in the summer but no agreement was reached. He was also linked with an unlikely move to Arsenal's rivals, Spurs.
Wenger told the club's website: "I was surprised it was Man City, because there were more talks about other clubs, but it is a good opportunity for him. I believe he will still be very effective in the Premier League because he has been injury free for three or four months and that is what he needed."
* Meanwhile, Arsenal teenager Jack Wilshere, tipped for big things in the future, is being linked this week with loan moves to either West Ham United or Burnley.