Vieira questions Wenger future

Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira believes Arsene Wenger's long-term future at the club remains shrouded in doubt following the surprise departure of David Dein.

Inter Milan midfielder Vieira, who spent nine years with the Gunners before joining Juventus in 2005, expressed his surprise at the vice-chairman's decision to leave the club due to "irreconcilable differences" with the rest of the board.

Scroll down to read more:

Those differences are understood to be over the direction and ownership of the club, with Dein believed to have favoured the involvement of American billionaire Stan Kroenke, which put him at odds with Arsenal director Danny Fiszman and also chairman Peter Hill-Wood.

But France captain Vieira, speaking at a Ford 'Feel Football' event in Milan, admitted the news had still come as a massive surprise.

He said: "It was a big shock to hear that David was going, I didn't really believe it. I said 'that's not possible'.

"I really had to ask people if it was real because I didn't believe it. He has been there a long time and it is difficult to know how he left the club so quickly."

Gunners manager Wenger, who signed Vieira from AC Milan in 1996, has promised to see out the remaining year of his contract at the club but remains tight-lipped on his future beyond that.

And Vieira predicts Dein's departure will lead to Wenger asking serious questions about his future at the Emirates Stadium beyond 2008 now his closest ally has departed.

"I believe you need more than one man to make a club, but Mr Dein and Mr Wenger were making all the decisions and one of them is not there any more so you can ask a few questions about the future of the club, and Mr Wenger's long-term future, certainly," he said.

"They started together and they have been together a long time and I can't see Arsene finishing the job by himself.

"Now, if he finishes for himself or if he leaves, I just don't know."

The 30-year-old Vieira, a Serie A title winner this season with Inter, has dismissed talk of a return to the Barclays Premiership.

But the man who made 279 appearances for Arsenal believes his old side's future has never looked so healthy considering the wealth of young talent at Wenger's disposal.

"I don't see myself going back to England. I am getting old! I am happy where I am and I will stay here for the end of my career," he added.

"But as a club, Arsenal are developing good young players and I feel the future is very, very bright for them."