Patrick Vieira says ready to lead Arsenal

New York City FC's French coach Patrick Vieira on Wednesday said that if asked to, he would be ready to lead Arsenal after the departure of his compatriot Arsene Wenger.

Vieira's name has been floated in the media as one of the possible candidates to take over the Gunner's bench upon Wenger's retirement at the end of this season following 22 years as Arsenal's coach, reports Efe.

"If the question is if I'm ready: yes I'm ready," said Vieira, Arsenal's former captain, while also stressing that he still has a year and a half left on his contract with New York City FC and that Arsenal's management had yet to contact him.

"When your name is linked with big teams in Europe it's good. That just shows that people are following what you're doing and you're doing a good job," the 41-year-old coach stressed.

Vieira wore the red and white colours of the Gunners between 1996 and 2005, winning three English Premier League (EPL) titles.

On Friday, when 68-year-old Wenger announced that he would retire as coach from Arsenal at the end of the season, Wenger said that Vieira has the potential to lead the London team one day.

Other possible candidates to helm Arsenal include Luis Enrique Martinez, Carlo Ancelotti, Mikel Arteta, Joachim Low, Brendan Rodgers and Leonardo Jardim.

--IANS

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