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Arsenal should hire former skipper to replace Wenger: Parlour

Former Gunners star Parlour believes the club should be open to the idea of taking the New York City boss back to the club and handing him the task of reviving their fortunes.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

Bengaluru, February 28: Ray Parlour believes Arsenal should target their former skipper Patrick Vieira as the man to take over from Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners are set to review the future of Wenger as manager at the end of the season after growing concerned at their struggles on the pitch this season.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis is said to have drawn up a seven-man shortlist of candidates to take over at the Emirates should the club decide to axe Wenger.

But ex-captain Vieira is not among that list of potential names which include Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and Germany manager Joachim Low.

And former Gunners star Parlour believes the club should be open to the idea of taking the New York City boss back to the club and handing him the task of reviving their fortunes.

Parlour told TalkSport: “I would take a gamble and go with Patrick.

“He knows the club very well, he came in as a young man and ended up being skipper.

“He’s had his experience in New York as manager, and I know he’s under the Manchester City umbrella at the moment, but I’m sure he would jump at the chance if he had the opportunity to come back to Arsenal.

“It is a gamble, but the good thing about the gamble is that he’s very well respected as a player all round the world so he’ll be able to attract the big players.

"But he will drive that team as well. He will make sure they play like he used to play.”

Arsenal currently face missing out on Champions League football for a second season unless they drastically turn around fortunes in the Premier League.

Winning the Europa League looks to be their best chance of making the Champions League again, although they now face a tough last-16 clash with AC Milan.

There is a growing feeling among the supporters that Wenger is no longer capable of delivering the success they crave.

He added: “The obvious choices would be Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone, managers like that who have lots of experience in Europe and know how to deal with big players and big clubs.

“But I just think they need to try something different. Maybe Patrick would get some of his ex-team-mates involved as well.

"Thierry Henry might be involved, who knows? He might want the job himself!

“The big problem Arsenal are going to have when they get a new manager is how long are they going to get before the fans are calling for his head?

“But you know the fans will give Patrick a chance.”

Story first published: Wednesday, February 28, 2018, 10:39 [IST]
Other articles published on Feb 28, 2018