Wenger tips Vieira as a future long-term heir: 'He's a guy who has the potential one day'

Arsene Wenger has tipped Patrick Vieira as a long-term heir to the managerial hot-seat at Arsenal but suggested his former captain will need higher level experience if he is to be seriously considered.

Sportsmail revealed on Thursday that Vieira is under consideration by the Arsenal board as a coach that could one day manage the club, whether that be as Wenger's replacement or further down the line.

The former Arsenal captain, 41, coached the Manchester City Under-23 team between 2013 and 2015 and has managed New York City, an affiliate of the Manchester club, since 2016.

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.'

Vieira's former Arsenal team-mate Ray Parlour told talkSport that the Frenchman 'would die for the chance of managing' Arsenal.

Wenger did, however, appear to warn that the challenge of the Premier League is altogether more testing task when compared to the MLS.

Wenger added: 'This Premier League is special, you know. You have to come in. There are plenty of former players who played here who have potential and the intelligence and the knowledge to do it. So there's plenty of choice, don't worry for that.'

The club's communications manager then stepped in to interrupt the questioning and change the topic, pointing out that there is no vacancy at Arsenal. Wenger's own future remains unclear following a dreadful Premier League campaign in which the club may yet finish as low as seventh if Burnley retain their good form.

Wenger's contract expires at the end of next season but senior board members are concerned that attendances have dropped recently in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger insisted the fans are not turning their backs on the club.

'Our crowd is very solid,' Wenger said. 'We have played on some special days, we're not going for the league. We have a very faithful crowd who will always be there to support the club.

'When you look at the renewal numbers for next season — outstanding. My personal situation is not so much my worry. My worry is to transform a season with many disappointments away from home into success.'

Asked if it will be his decision whether he carries on next season, Wenger said: 'That doesn't really matter. As I told you, my main worry is Arsenal Football Club. When the results aren't as good as everybody wants, people ask that question. I cannot master that. I can only master my commitment and I do that.'

Meanwhile, Arsenal may yet offer Santi Cazorla a new contract despite the Spaniard not having played for the club since October 2016. His current deal runs out this summer.

Cazorla has suffered a series of career threatening injuries and has had multiple operations, resulting in the loss of eight centimetres from the tendon in his right ankle. Yet Wenger said that Cazorla's rehabilitation is going well.

'Yes, of course (we will assess him),' Wenger said. 'We miss him a lot. He is an exceptional football player. It is very sad.

'I have not seen him since the League Cup final because he has gone back to make his rehab. But the last I heard is that he is doing very well, so I hope that certainly he will come back before the end of the season and we an make a check-up of where he stands. Can he play again in the Premier League? I hope yes, but I don't know.'