Patrick Vieira sounds an upbeat note in an interview with Football365 - which, this time, we are inclined to trust.

'We have a good chance of winning the league if we play to our strengths,' he says. 'And I think we can deliver in Europe... We need to be more consistent. When we're playing well it's difficult to see us losing. But we do sometimes lose our concentration. We need to address that.'

He tips Ashley Cole and Lauren for great things this year, and says he thinks he's becoming a much better player at Arsenal. Asked who he tips to win the Premiership, he gives the answer we all want to hear: 'Arsenal! Who else?'

All of which calls into serious doubt the claim from Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud, quoted by Skysports.com from French sports paper L'Equipe, that 'according to my information, Arsenal hold (Vieira) against his will.' Yeah, right.