grimandi to quit Arsenal

GILLES GRIMANDI today revealed that he will leave Arsenal at the end of the season.

The French utility player, who joined Arsenal from Monaco in 1997, told icons.com: "I plan to leave Arsenal at the end of this season.

"It has not been a very easy decision to make for me, but I feel it is the right one. I need to play regularly and with the strength of the squad here I have had to be realistic about my chances.

"There are just a few weeks left of the season and all I can hope is that I finish my career here as I started it - with Arsenal winning the Double.

Whether or not I'm playing in the closing weeks, I will continue to support the team.

"Arsenal have given me so much and I will feel a bit like an Arsenal man for the rest of my life."

Grimandi, who has made 171 appearances, added: "When I look back over my five years here there are so many happy memories for me.

"If I had to take one away with me, it would be the way the fans grew to respect me here.

"I had a tough start and I don't feel at first I had the respect of the fans. After all, I'm the first to admit that I don't have the skill of people like Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires.

"But I am determined and I always give 100 per cent when I take to the field. I feel that the fans now respect me. In this sense, I must feel that I've done my job here.

"I don't know where I will end up. In the past I've said I might be interested in playing in Japan one day but I have made no decision yet.

"I am thinking over different possibilities in my mind. You can't be guaranteed to play in every match wherever you go, but I'd like to be able to play regularly wherever I do go.

"I have two years left of my career - I can't spend it sitting on the bench or playing for reserve teams."

The 31-year-old admitted: "I'll never forget my time at Highbury."

Meanwhile, French teammate Robert Pires will discover next week if needs surgery to cure the knee injury that brought his season to a premature end.

The midfielder, who hurt his knee in the FA Cup sixth round match against Newcastle three weeks ago, has been in France for the last fortnight having intensive treatment on the medial ligaments.

He is hoping that he will be able to make a full recovery without the need for an operation but that will depend on the verdict from specialist Phillipe Boixel who will examine Pires at the French training centre at Clairefontaine when the national squad assemble for the friendly against Russia in Paris next Wednesday.

The feeling within the French Football Federation is that Pires has a "one per cent chance" of making the World Cup finals, but it looks almost cerain that Boixel will recommend an operation to mend the ligament damage.

Pires has resigned himself to missing France's defence in South Korea and Japan and is looking for a fresh start next season with Arsenal.

However, there was some good news as central defender Matthew Upson could be back before the end of this season.

Upson hurt his knee during Arsenal's 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park in February and it was feared he would be out until August, but he has now resumed training.

With Arsenal still gunning for the Premiership title and the FA Cup, and with the risk of injury to players away on international duty in the next week, the return of Upson - who was in excellent form before his injury - would be a welcome bonus for manager Arsene Wenger.

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