Aston Villa Ink Robert Pires through Season
Added on Nov 18, 2010 by Trent Sillanpaa in
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Aston Villa have signed former Arsenal and France star midfielder Robert Pires through the remainder of the 2010-11 season in an effort to secure its position on the top half of the Premier League table. The 37-year-old Frenchman has been without a club since his contract with Villareal ran out following last season.
Villa are currently in ninth in the Premier League table through 13 matches, yet remain well-positioned to challenge for a place in next season’s Europa League on 17 points. The Birmingham side trail Newcastle United by a point and are two points removed from Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland, and Tottenham Hotspur. Last weekend Villa lost a 2-0 lead versus Manchester United and settled for a 2-2 draw.
Pires has been training with Arsenal and claims to be fully fit and prepared to step onto the pitch competitively when Villa trips to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.
“I can’t wait to play and put on that new shirt,” Pires said on Aston Villa TV. “It is very exciting. I am very happy to join Aston Villa because it’s a big club in England. This move represents a new opportunity and a new challenge for me. I am very happy to start.”
Should he find his way onto the pitch, Pires will join a side with a number of youthful attacking options in Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, and Marc Albrighton. During his accomplished Arsenal career – which ran from 2000 through 2006 – Pires scored 62 league goals in 189 appearances. Pires won three Premier League titles and three FA Cup trophies with Arsenal while playing key roles for France’s 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winners.
Pires’ production slowed during his four-year run in La Liga, but he still totaled 102 caps and 13 goals in league play alone. He also helped Villareal remain a factor in the Champions League.
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