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Coming in? Marseille midfielder Robert Pires, who set up France's golden
goal winner, has arrived at the club for £6.5 million. Richard Wright, England's number
three goalkeeper at Euro 2000, may be another target, as David Seaman's long term
successor. The 22-year-old is on the transfer list at Ipswich and Arsenal could offer Alex
Manninger in part-exchange. Manninger is desperate for regular first team football to keep
his place in the Austria team. Meanwhile, Galatasaray and Turkey defender Fatih Akyel has
told the local media that he's on his way out of Istanbul, either to Arsenal or German
club Schalke. While Brazilian Edu has a small passport problem to work out...
Nigel Winterburn's move to West Ham leaves Lee Dixon and Tony Adams as the
only survivors of the legendary back four - though Martin Keown played alongside Adams in
Arsenal's youth team as far back as 1982! Wenger said he had no wish to stand in
36-year-old Winterburn's way if he could gain first team football elsewhere. He added:
'Nigel's contribution to Arsenal has been immense. It will be rare in future that a player
will play so well and so long for one club.' Winterburn, who had hoped to finish his
playing days at Highbury, said: 'I had 13 great years at Arsenal, but I think I've still
got two or three good years in the Premiership left in me.'
Arsenal's biggest individual success of last season was Thierry Henry, Highbury top
scorer, and now a European champion with France - after a bit of help from Arsene Wenger,
who converted him from a wide player into a devastating replacement for Nicolas Anelka.
Henry said: 'I feel stronger and more confident than I have ever done. My heading has
improved and so has my finishing.' After France's dramatic final comeback against Italy,
Henry said: 'This is a fantastic moment. We proved we could win a major tournament outside
France. It has also made up for my disappointments with Arsenal. I scored a lot of goals
but we didn't win anything. Now I aim to win a lot with Arsenal over the next few years.'
Henry was rated the paciest striker at Euro 2000 - but a French sprint coach reckons he
can run even faster. Jacques Piasenta, who trains top French woman sprinter Christine
Arron, said: 'I think Henry - and Anelka - could be even quicker if we taught them a
better technique. I think that would be especially good for Thierry because he has
powerful thighs and long legs, which are ideal for an athlete.' Patrick Vieira seems to
have established himself in France's starting line-up at last and looks the obvious
successor to skipper and anchor man Didier Deschamps. But the final was a bitter-sweet
occasion for Manu Petit, who was effectively ruled out by flu. Petit's pre-match
prediction was spot on though. He said: 'France will win because we have the mentality of
winners. We never give up.'
Holland's semi-final shootout horror against Italy was a sad way for Dennis Bergkamp to
bow out of international football. Bergkamp almost broke the deadlock with a first half
shot against a post, but failed to add to his Dutch record of 36 international goals
during the tournament. Bergkamp reckons he'll only hold the record for a few years though,
if Patrick Kluivert carries on scoring at his present rate.
Italian champions Lazio are interested in Marc Overmars, whose expected move to Barcelona
was scuppered when their ex-Ajax coach Louis Van Gaal made a hasty departure after the
Champions League humiliation by Valencia. Juventus covet Vieira, but are unlikely to get
him, while Petit is a target for Real Madrid.
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