Arsenal 3-0 Rangers: Arsene Wenger hints he could sign Patrick Viera

Arsene Wenger last night admitted he is ready to break the habit of a lifetime and re-sign Patrick Vieira.

The Gunners boss has never gone back for any of the players he has sold during his 13-year reign.

But Wenger will hold talks with his former captain this week about signing the 33-year-old on a free transfer from Inter Milan.

It is understood that Vieira has been offered a pay-as-you-play deal at Arsenal with the promise of a coaching role in the future.

But there are two obstacles in the way of one of the most remarkable returns in Premier League history.

Vieira wants a £1million pay-off from Inter and is also concerned about how many first-team games he would get at Arsenal as his main goal for moving is to secure a place in France's World Cup squad.

But Wenger is ready to add experience to his squad and senior club officials would also welcome the transfer to appease fans alarmed by the sale of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure.

Wenger said: "I have a general policy about re-signing players but I never said I would never do it. I am not a big fan because I feel once the players have gone, they have gone.

"If I want to call Patrick, I can call his English number. But nobody will move at the moment. Two weeks ago I didn't know if we would have Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky or not and they are both completely back so that makes the squad quite big. I don't deny it could have a psychological impact on the rest of the squad. It is a possibility. First of all it is not sure he will decide to join us.

There is a lot to be done." Wenger and Vieira still speak regularly and it is understood the player has rung several of his French compatriots at Arsenal to sound them out. Vieira has had interest from Tottenham and Fulham and is keen to return to the Premier League.

His spell in Italy with Juventus and Inter has been disrupted by injury since he left Arsenal for £14m in 2005.

But he has had an injury-free pre-season and will go to Beijing with Inter this week to play Lazio in Italy's equivalent of the Charity Shield.

Also in Vieira's favour is that his experience could help Arsenal's youngsters.

But even though they fielded a young side against Rangers yesterday, Arsenal still swept the Scottish champions aside with two goals from Jack Wilshere and one from Eduardo.