Pires is ready to sign new contract

Robert Pires is close to extending his Arsenal career by signing a new contract at Highbury.

The French midfielder was in the middle of talks about a new deal when he injured his knee during the FA Cup quarter-final replay victory over Newcastle.

That injury ended his season and forced him to miss the World Cup. But, as Arsenal went on to win the Double, Pires still managed to collect the Footballer of the Year award.

His recuperation is being supervised at a sports clinic at St Raphael in the south of France and today he revealed he expects to be fit by the start of October.

"As for the contract, I would still like to sign an extension but for the last few months I have been concentrating on getting back to fitness. It has gone really well. I am ahead of where I should be at this stage.

"Hopefully, I will be able to come back to Arsenal for treatment at the beginning of next month."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is on holiday in the same part of France as Pires is having treatment.

"I will be seeing the manager-this week and I cannot see any problem. Arsenal want me to stay and I want to stay at the club. Hopefully, it will be sorted out very soon."

Pires has two years left on his current deal and is planning to extend the agreement by another year.

Meanwhile, 28-year-old Lille defender Pascal Cygan today confirmed his keenness to join Arsenal in a £6m deal.

"Since I visited the facilities at Arsenal I really want to go there," he said.