Premier League - Pires agrees six-month Villa deal

Thu, 18 Nov 16:46:00 2010

Robert Pires has returned to the Premier League after a four-year absence by signing a six-month contract with Aston Villa.

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Villa boss Gerard Houllier opted to offer the former Arsenal and France midfielder, who was a free agent, a short-term contract in a bid to supplement his young squad with experience.

Pires, 37, has been training with Arsenal over the past two months.

He made his name with Arsene Wenger's side in his first stint in English football, scoring 84 goals in 283 appearances after joining Arsenal for £6 million from Marseille in 2000.

Pires believes he could be on the bench for the Premier League match with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Sunday.

"I start tomorrow with the team. It is a good opportunity for me," Pires told Sky Sports. "I am very happy because I like English football. It is very important for me to play again. I think I can play on Sunday.

"Like me, (Houllier) is very happy. I am going to play with experience, because the team is very young."

He won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups with the London club to complement winning the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with his country.

"'Robert has been training with Arsenal," said Villa assistant manager Gary McAllister. "I know the boss and Arsene Wenger are very friendly and I believe he's joining us.

"It's perfect. I'm sure he will arrive in good condition. He's a player everyone can look up to because of what he has achieved."

Pires spent four years with Spanish side Villarreal after leaving Arsenal in 2006, but was told he would not have his contract renewed during the close season.

Eurosport

Comment 44 - 63 of 63

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  1. what idiot thinks seedorf is one of the greatest­ players.....these guys are too old past there­ best...and should leave it in the past.......move­ on.............

    From andrew, on Sat 20 Nov 2:54

  2. Welcome back mr pires glad to see you again

    Hey guys­ follow Mr_E_Manager on twitter not sure which manager­ he is but his views on fabio cappello looking like­ postman pat are classic

    From alan, on Sat 20 Nov 2:23

  3. i know it a great boom for aston villa's team. ­ and a treat 2 d gunners

    From Adetoro Adetola, on Sat 20 Nov 1:47

  4. All these people criticising this signing need to­ realise:
    1. Villa have probably the worse injury crisis­ in the league with four central midfielders out for 4-8­ weeks.
    2. Only out of contract people can be signed­ before January so with only a very limited choice he is­ the best available.
    3. Villa have been letting winning­ positions slide in recent weeks, so if he can come off­ the bench with 15-20 mins to go, Houllier has signed­ him for his nous and skill to help retain possession,­ which the younger kids have failed to do as they tire­ towards the end of matches.

    From stuartplant2003, on Sat 20 Nov 1:39

  5. It is such a thrill to see Robert back. One of my top­ favourites at Arsenal. Couldn't have chosen a­ better side than Villa. Hope you enjoy more than 6­ months with them. To all those negative comments. look­ how ManU and Chelsea have done with older more­ experienced guys in the team and Arsenal still rely on­ the older ones to help bring in the goals. Don't­ judge before you see.

    From GLYNIS, on Sat 20 Nov 1:35

  6. you dont say.....
    wow
    i mean
    pires.... what a shock­
    yahoo big exclusive
    how do you do it
    massive story­ like this
    ... and ONLY FIVE DAYS after it was on­ sky and in all the papers

    From n3llyo, on Sat 20 Nov 1:35

  7. Two words...Filippo Inzaghi. 37 years old. Came off the­ bench to score 2 against Real Madrid, arguably the best­ team in the world. Seedorf, 34, still one of the­ greatest players on the planet.

    From craig h, on Sat 20 Nov 1:32

  8. BBC News 2 days ago....Sky SPorts News 3 days­ ago....
    The British Press­ Sun/Mirror/Express/Guardian/Times 2 days ago.
    Are Yahoo­ reading 3 day old news and claiming the top story is­ 'Just Breaking' 2 days later?????
    KEEP UP­ YAHOO. FFS

    From Ben, on Sat 20 Nov 1:32

  9. I know you can do it, as you ve done with us when you­ re still a gunner, and you still have that in your­ blood mahn..Go for it pires...Gunners still loves­ you....

    From Semmy, on Sat 20 Nov 1:28
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Houlier was a bad appointment and this goes to show the­ ambition we have as a club, come back Deadly Doug

    From bonalba, on Sat 20 Nov 1:26

  11. im shocked .... its normally pulis that buys washed up­ players ....

    From up the potters :), on Sat 20 Nov 1:21

  12. is it true as i heard they were looking at Peter­ Shilton after seeing him dance

    From andrew, on Sat 20 Nov 1:06

  13. i think villa are also after sheringham and yorke up­ front

    From andrew, on Sat 20 Nov 0:43

  14. Complete waste of time another footballer past his best­ back to the premiership....like vierra... if he was any­ good villareal would of kept him on.

    From andrew, on Sat 20 Nov 0:41

  15. Welcome

    From Emmanuel Aburime, on Sat 20 Nov 0:17

  16. Wow

    From favour_onome, on Sat 20 Nov 0:05

  17. Nice to see u again in the epl

    From Shadrach, on Fri 19 Nov 23:39

  18. Wish him all the very best but Villareal would have­ seen him in training and in competitive games prior to­ their decision. At 37 even a legend will lose 0.5mtrs­ of pace and endurance. Aston Villa will know that and­ dictate the terms of his contract rather than vice­ versa. (probably pay as you play) Longevity of career­ is more suited for goalkeepers and in somecases central­ defenders. Aston Villa will benefit from him by­ bringing him on in the last 20 minutes of a game to­ extend the managerial control onto the field of play­ but will it enable them to close out games like Man Utd­ & Fulham where they threw points away in the last­ 10 minutes. Somehow doubt it.

    From farpost, on Fri 19 Nov 23:22

  19. He is the guy to come in in the last 20/25 minutes of­ the game and offer his skills and experience to the­ team.Surely he will give a lot to Villa.

    From Sammy, on Fri 19 Nov 23:03
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    its good to know that villa are helping the aged. go­ turbo mate in your wheel chair

    From wayne, on Fri 19 Nov 22:59
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