Pires: I'll stay here for life

Robert Pires today revealed he could extend his stay at Arsenal beyond the three years agreed in his new contract - and that he is set to finish his career with the club.

After protracted negotiations, the 29-year-old French midfielder agreed his new deal last week. And he is in no doubt what he owes to the English game. "Physically and mentally I am more mature now because of the move to Arsenal," said Pires. "I love it here and that is why I was so pleased to settle the contract. Now I can concentrate on playing - and that could be longer than the new contract." Pires arrived at Arsenal three years ago in a £5million deal from Marseille. He struggled to adapt at first but showed great determination to come to terms with Premiership football.

It made him more consistent, earned him the Footballer of the Year award last year and ensured that he developed into a key man for the French team.

A knee injury kept him out of the World Cup last year and his absence was pinpointed as a major factor in the failure of the reigning world champions to progress beyond the first group phase.

"Whether I stay on or not depends on what shape I am in at the time," said Pires who is 30 in October. "But if I'm still able to play at the highest level, then why not? We will have to wait and see."

But if Arsenal find that Pires is redundant to their needs, the Frenchman looks certain to follow the example set by Dennis Bergkamp this summer. Bergkamp said that if he had failed to agree a new deal at Arsenal he would have quit football rather than move to a smaller club.