Arsenal legend, Patrick Vieira, has opened up on replacing Arsene Wenger as Gunners’ manager.
The Frenchman said he is ready to manage in Europe, admitting he would find it “difficult” to reject the call from Arsenal.
Vieira is being strongly linked with the manager’s job at the Emirate after Wenger announced he would be stepping down from his position.
And Vieira who made 371 appearances for the club, said it is an honour to be linked with his former team.
“I mentally know what’s going on, what people are saying,” he told The Times, UK.
“And I’m really happy about that because I think it’s good to have your name linked with a team like Arsenal but honestly it’s not something which will stop me doing what I am doing at the moment.
“Of course it’s an honour to be mentioned with Arsenal.
“It was somewhere I spent nine years and I love the club. I played my best football there and made my name in the game. I am always going to have a deeper relationship with Arsenal. That [alone] is not enough to coach that team but I’m ready to coach any side in Europe.
“I don’t want this to be perceived that I want to go because I don’t want to leave. But if the question is as simple as ‘are you ready to manage any teams in Europe?’ then I would say yes. I am ready.
“I think we’re all doing this job because one day we want to coach the biggest teams in Europe. Just like when you’re a player, you want to play for the biggest clubs.”
Vieira is currently the manager of New York City FC, where he has built up experience over the past two years.
And the 41-year-old reckons his relationship with the MLS side would make any decision about the Gunners, if an approach is made, “difficult”.
He added,“If the call came it would be really difficult.
“It would be difficult because we will be in the middle of the season. And like every time that I’ve been approached by any teams, I’m sitting with the guys from the CFG and will let them know. They will make the decision because I’m under contract here.
“It’s not just about checking my phone. It’s going to be more complex than that because I’m under contract.”
Prior to his announcement, when asked if Vieira could replace him, Wenger said: “He works in the moment in New York and he works for Man City. He’s a guy who has the potential one day, yes.
“I’ve followed his managerial career. I think he does very well but overall, this Premier League is special.
“You have to come in and there are plenty of former players who played here who have potential, the intelligence and knowledge to do it.”
