Edu is said to want Patrick Vieira as the next Arsenal manager while the club seemingly remain divided behind the scenes over who would be best for the job.

LONDON - APRIL 16:  Patrick Vieira of Arsenal shakes hands with Edu as he is substituted due to a recurring knee injury during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Highbury on April 16, 2003 in London. (Photo By Ben Radford/Getty Images)
LONDON – APRIL 16: Patrick Vieira of Arsenal shakes hands with Edu as he is substituted due to a recurring knee injury during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Highbury on April 16, 2003 in London. (Photo By Ben Radford/Getty Images)

With Marcelino reportedly in London to be interviewed for the job and Unai Emery reportedly holding meetings with Everton, Edu is reportedly said to want to bring Patrick Vieira back to the club.

Reportedly.

Vieira as made no secret of his desire to return to Arsenal one day and he again touched on that when asked recently about the speculation he could replace Emery.

The Punch, 9 December 2019
The Punch, 9 December 2019

“You can never ignore a club where you’ve spent nine years,” Vieira told Canal+ (via Goal).

“But, honestly, I’m focused on this project at Nice, I feel very good here. It’s a very exciting project.

“I’ve always said that I’m very happy in Nice. We’re all working to move the club forward and there is potential.”

CARDIFF - AUGUST 11:  Michael Owen of Liverpool and Patrick Vieira and Edu of Arsenal challge for the ball  during the FA Community Shield between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on August 11, 2002. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Arsenal won the match 1-0.
CARDIFF – AUGUST 11: Michael Owen of Liverpool and Patrick Vieira and Edu of Arsenal challge for the ball during the FA Community Shield between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on August 11, 2002. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Arsenal won the match 1-0.

Vieira is also said to be highly coveted by David Beckham as he gets ready to launch his Inter Miami team.

Back in October, Vieira admitted it was his dream to one day manage Arsenal and you have to think that he would stand a better chance of putting himself in the frame for that sort of job by staying in a top European league rather than returning to the USA.

Inter Miami have reportedly put Vieira ahead of Roberto Martinez and Marcelo Gallardo and are prepared to pay Nice compensation to land him.

Are Arsenal?

MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 22:  Champions League 04/05, Muenchen, 22.02.05; FC Bayern Muenchen - Arsenal London; Patrik VIEIRA und EDU/London spricht mit Schiedsrichter Kim Milton NIELSEN/DEN neben den am Boden liegenden Torsten FRINGS/Bayern  (Photo by Christian Fischer/Bongarts/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 22: Champions League 04/05, Muenchen, 22.02.05; FC Bayern Muenchen – Arsenal London; Patrik VIEIRA und EDU/London spricht mit Schiedsrichter Kim Milton NIELSEN/DEN neben den am Boden liegenden Torsten FRINGS/Bayern (Photo by Christian Fischer/Bongarts/Getty Images)

I’m not going to sit here and admit that I’ve played close attention to Patrick Vieira’s managerial career.

I gave it a cursory glance when he was in the States and it was rumoured he was being trained up to become Manchester City manager one day, but after he moved to France I’d be lying if I said I continued to pay attention.

But if Edu sees something there he wants to work with, who am I to argue?

David Ornstein also delivered an update on Arsenal’s leading candidates, selection process and more.