Nicolas Anelka must have made up with the English media... for lo and behold, here he is giving an exclusive interview to today's Evening Standard.

The fast-moving Frenchman joins Dennis Bergkamp in claiming that there's no real danger of Patrick Vieira leaving. 'He loves the club, he loves London and he loves the fans. He helped me when I was having a difficult time after my move to Real Madrid. He kept saying I would come through and I did. I will do the same for him now.'

And Horsey reckons that Sylvain Wiltord will be a big hit in the Highbury dressing room. 'He has a big personality and is very outgoing. He will love all the music in the dressing room, all the noise. That is one thing I miss, you know - the atmosphere in an English dressing room.'

Needless to say, Anelka's got some comments about the (lack of) welcome he received at Madrid. 'No one used to speak to me... I don't know why.' But what is most striking is the lack of nastiness towards Arsenal. (Probably cos Overmars has left?) Perhaps he might fancy coming back, now he's got so many mates around the place!

Plenty more in Steve Stammers's piece, here.