Arsenal missing me claims Vieira

[Dazza]

Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira said that his former club have suffered since he left for Juventus last summer.
"I don't want to appear presumptuous but I really do think that my absence has been felt at Arsenal," Vieira, 29, told the London Evening Standard.

"They have certainly suffered psychologically since I left.

"Maybe it is because they have not fully understood the reasons why I left or maybe they are only just beginning to understand."

Juventus paid £13.7m for the France international and Vieira has made it clear that he wants to finish his career with the Italian club.

I know what I want from myself and I know what way I want my life to take," he added.

"I have signed a long contract with Juventus because these are the most decisive years of my career and they may well be the last team that I play for."

Vieira said that he decided to leave Arsenal after nine years because he needed a new challenge.

"I left London because there was nothing else left to stimulate me," he said.

"I am 29 and still at the top of my career. I have reached my peak physically and tactically.

"I wanted to play the best years of my career for a side that would help develop my ambitions and Juventus have allowed me this."