Robert Pires believes we’ll see the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Tony Adams coaching at Arsenal one day… but not just yet.

• Pires reckons ex-players will return to Arsenal once Wenger leaves
• Would love to see Bergkamp coach at Arsenal
• Tells fans to be patient

Pires believes that having Vieira managing New York City FC isn’t ‘normal’ when he could be at Arsenal, and reckons that most of the big former players involved in coaching will return to the club in ‘some capacity’ one Arsene Wenger leaves.

“This is one question I can’t give you one straight answer,” Pires admitted to bwin.

“It’s not normal that someone like Patrick Vieira is managing New York City and not coaching at Arsenal Football Club.

“I think one day we’ll see Patrick, Thierry, Tony Adams and so on at the club in some capacity. Fans need to be patient.

“Arsenal will be preparing for the future without Arsene Wenger and I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw those names in the setup when he leaves.”

Vieira has spoken in the past about not being offered a role at Arsenal and does appear to be disappointed, which suggests that he could return if offered one in the future.

Meanwhile, Henry did have a coaching role at the club but, since he also wanted to be a pundit at the weekends, it was a conflict of interests.

I don’t blame Arsenal for showing him the door.

Adams has just been named as Granada’s new manager after turning down a spot at Arsenal in the summer in favour of a move to the Chinese Super League.

Granada have since been relegated from La Liga. However, this says more about the shambles of the squad Adams inherited, not his management skills. Not that he has the most glimmering record…

Another name which springs to mind when thinking of former plays who have become coaches is Dennis Bergkamp who’s currently Ajax’s assistant manager.

“I would really like to see Dennis Bergkamp working with the Arsenal Academy – 100%,” added Pires.

“It’s possible. He has Arsenal DNA and knows how Arsenal play, so he would be a perfect person to takeover the youth team.”