Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has said that he doesn't expect Mikel Arteta to leave his old club until the end of the season.
The former Arsenal midfielder is the bookmakers' favourite to take over from Unai Emery and has also been heavily linked with the vacant managerial role at Everton.
Freddie Ljungberg has taken charge of five Arsenal matches as interim head coach, winning just once, with pressure building on the hierarchy to make an appointment.
Arsenal were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Manchester City with Arteta back at the Emirates stadium but in the away dugout as City assistant.
While many have been expecting Arteta to become the new boss, close friend and former teammate Lescott has dealt a potential blow to their hopes by admitting he doesn't expect him to leave Manchester City before the end of the season.
"There are ambitions to manage but I'm not sure it's the right time to leave. Looking at the two options (Arsenal and Everton) they're great opportunities," Lescott told Sky Sports' Super Sunday.
"He obviously played at both clubs. I'm sure going there, if he does decide to leave Man City he will relish that opportunity but I see him staying until the end of the season."
Meanwhile, Lescott has named who he thinks would be a good appointment for Arsenal.
He added: "I'd like to see someone like Patrick Vieira, the fact that players of that stature in global football have played for this club and none of them are here is quite surprising to me."
