‘I hope’: Vieira comments on player Arteta reportedly wants at Arsenal

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Patrick Vieira has admitted that he is desperate to see a reported Arsenal target – Wilfried Zaha – stay at Selhurst Park.

The Gunners have long been linked with a move to sign the Eagles’ attacker.

Back in October, 90 Min reported that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was an ‘admirer’ of the player.

And with Zaha out of contract this summer, and no sign a new deal being signed anytime soon, a January exit is definitely on the cards.

If Arsenal are genuinely keen, now would be the time to strike.

But Vieira, speaking via TMW in Italy, has said the ball is in Zaha’s court over whether he’d like to stay in West London or not.

The former Arsenal captain: “I hope he doesn’t go zero, but you should ask him the question and not me.

“The situation we know it, everyone knows we want to keep him, but the decision is his and we have to wait and see what he wants to do. We have to prepare for every option.”

Perhaps favourably for Arsenal and other suitors, it does sound like Vieira might be pessimistic.

When he says that ‘we have to prepare for every option’ it does perhaps indicate that Palace are exploring the possibility of having to replace him now instead of next summer.

Whether he goes to the North Londoners or not remains to be seen, but he’s a wonderful player with nine goal involvements in 17 Premier League outings this season.