PATRICK VIEIRA was not approached over replacing Unai Emery but the Nice boss admits he did not want the Arsenal job anyway.
Gunners chiefs appointed Mikel Arteta as their new manager – the former Manchester City No2’s first job in management.
But club legend Vieira, who also cut his teeth in coaching with the Citizens, had been strongly linked with the role after impressing with New York City and Nice.
Asked if he spoke to the Gunners, he told the Daily Mail: “No, but there is no place in my mind to have those kind of conversations.
“My focus is here. This project suits who I am and what I want to achieve.
“This rumour about the Arsenal job is not something that bothered me. I don’t know what the future holds but that is why I don’t want to put my brain somewhere that doesn’t exist.
“This club knows I want to stay and I know they want me to stay, 100 per cent.”
Vieira, 43, is likely to head to the Premier League one day but for now feels he is in the right place to develop his skills as a manager.
He added: “Every step I’ve made prepares me for the future. I want to be the best I can be and I will give myself the best chance to achieve that. I want to win trophies. I want to be successful.
“At City, I spent a lot of time in different departments, so I understand how a club is run. They opened every single door for me to learn the job. Going to New York, I felt the pressure a bit more with getting the results, working with professional players for the first time – it was an unbelievable experience.
“I came to Nice because it is a club that is still growing and it is a place for me to grow as well. I saw City grow and it is the same here.
“The philosophy of the club is develop young talent and they have big ambitions. They are building a structure to play European football on a regular basis.”
