Saturday 6 May 2017 14:56, UK
Former Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre has tipped Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim to replace Arsene Wenger at the Emirates if the Gunners boss leaves the north London club at the end of the campaign.
Wenger's current contract expires this summer, although the Frenchman has reportedly been offered a new two-year deal to stay in the capital.
However, with Wenger still to announce whether he will be at Arsenal next season, speculation has been growing of late about who would replace him should he depart this summer.
Silvestre, who played under Wenger at Arsenal between 2008 and 2010, believes it will be 67-year-old who ultimately decides his own future.
"He [Wenger] will only be the one who decides when he wants to go," he told Soccer AM.
"I think the real question and concern is what is next and how do you handle the transition? If he goes, who stays behind from the staff?
"It is really important to keep the staff involved. He has got a major legacy and you do not want to throw everything in the bin."
If Wenger does opt to call it quits after more than 20 years in charge of the Gunners, though, then Silvestre would like to see Jardim take over from his compatriot.
The Monaco coach is enjoying a wonderful season with the Ligue 1 club on the verge of winning their first league title for 17 years, while they have also made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
And it is the attacking brand of football that Jardim plays which Silvestre feels would make him an ideal candidate to take on the role.
"You should look at someone who practices attacking football, like a Leonardo Jardim at Monaco," he said.
"I would not fancy Diego Simeone to come and play a tight two lines in front of the goalkeeper."
"The Arsenal way of playing is attacking football, so you want to keep that."
