Aston Villa will sign former Arsenal star Robert Pires prior to Sunday’s clash with Blackburn.
The 37-year-old, who won two Premier League titles and was named 2002 Player of the Year during his time with the Gunners, has been without a club since being released by Spanish outfit Villarreal in the summer.
Pires has since been training with Arsenal in a bid to maintain his fitness, and Villa assistant manager Gary McAllister has confirmed the Frenchman is now bound for Villa Park.
He told the club’s official website: “I know the boss (Gerard Houllier) and Arsene Wenger are very friendly and I believe he’s going to join us in the next two or three days.
“It’s perfect. I am sure he will arrive at the training ground in good condition.
“He’s a player everyone can look up to because of what he has achieved.”