Parlour wants legendary Arsenal duo to replace Arsene Wenger

Ross Gibson

Arsenal should already laying the ground work so that Patrick Vieira can take over once Arsene Wenger finally leaves the club, according to club legend Ray Parlour.

The Gunners handed Wenger a new two-year deal earlier in the summer, depsite an outcry from the club’s fanbase to see Arsenal move forward without the Frenchman.

Parlour, who was part of the Arsenal invincibles squad, believes his team-mate from that season in Vieira deserves to be handed the chance to take the club forward – and also wants to see Thierry Henry heavily involved too.

In an interview with AskFans, Parlour said: “If I was Arsenal now, I’d be looking in two years time, whenever it’s going to be, and see who is going to be interested in taking over.

“Try and put it in place now. Managers don’t hang around.

“Do you know who would be perfect one day? Patrick Vieira.

“He’s manager at New York, but now he’s probably in line for the Manchester City job instead of Arsenal. He’s part of their club.

“In the future, maybe Thierry Henry. He’s a very intelligent guy, he knows the players, he knows the dressing room and he knows how to attract big players.

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“He could be perfect for it. Will he get an opportunity? Who knows. I would always look at ex-players.

“I know it doesn’t always work out like that with Tony Adams and such, but if they know the club inside out, which Vieira and Henry do, it gives you a big advantage.

“When you sack a manager you’ve got to have a plan. You’ve got to tap people up.

“You’ve got to be asking their agents and getting something in place.

“Ask them, ‘Would you be interested if an opportunity came up to manage Arsenal?’”