Arsenal will again make a pitch to former player Mikel Arteta as they seek to replace the sacked Unai Emery.

The Independent has been told the Manchester City assistant head coach is once more one of the top candidates, along with Carlo Ancelotti, Max Allegri, and Wolves’ Nuno Espirito Santo.

Brendan Rodgers has previously been highly considered, but there is a realisation he would be almost impossible to prise from Leicester City right now, and Patrick Vieira’s status has slightly lessened given a drop-off in results with Nice.

Arteta had previously been very close to the job in May 2018, only for Arsenal to then decide on Emery. The former midfielder had felt a bit stung by that but is so interested in a managerial career in his own right, and has such affection for the club, that he would be willing to reconsider any offer.

Arsenal had not planned to yet replace Emery, and had hoped a winnable run of games could bring the team out of the slide they’d entered, so that has meant there had been no formal approaches to a potential replacement.

The favourites to be next Arsenal manager Show all 16 1 /16 The favourites to be next Arsenal manager The favourites to be next Arsenal manager Who are the favourites to become next Arsenal manager?? Here are 15 candidates ranked who could replace former boss Unai Emery at the Emirates. Getty The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 15. Brendan Rodgers (Leicester City) The former Liverpool manager is flying with Leicester and, but a brand-new contract makes any move away now appear very unlikely. Getty Images The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 14. Ralf Rangnick The architect of much of Red Bull's footballing success, Rangnick has been subject to interest from a host of Europe's elite clubs, including Arsenal. With Manchester United also mooted to be interested, it remains to be seen whether he'd consider a move to north London an attractive proposition. Getty The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 13. Julian Nagelsmann (RB Leipzig) The 32-year-old is widely acknowledged as the best young manager in football and someone Arsenal could seek to build a long-term plan around. However, they are far from the only club interested in tempting the German away from Leipzig. Peter Kovalev/TASS The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 12. Nuno Espirito Santo (Wolves) The Wolves manager has had great success leading the side from the Championship to the Europa League. He's still relatively young in managerial terms and could also bring close ties with 'superagent' Jorge Mendes. Getty The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 11. Mauricio Pochettino (Free agent) The Argentine has publicly claimed he wouldn't manage Spurs' north London rivals. He'd also undoubtedly prefer a role at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or PSG. However, he remains the clear betting favourite to replace Unai Emery and would surely be coveted by the Arsenal hierarchy - no matter how unlikely. The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 10. Marcelino Garcia Toral (Free agent) A free agent after being sacked by Valencia earlier this season Marcelino is considered another possible option from the continent. Getty Images The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 9. Paulo Sousa (Bordeaux) The former Swansea and Leicester manager would be a left-field choice, but has rehabilitated his reputation in France. AFP via Getty Images The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 8. Marcelo Gallardo (River Plate) Linked with Barcelona as the successor to Ernesto Valverde, Arsenal could nip ahead in the race for the Argentine after River Plate's defeat to Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores final. Getty The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 7. Rafael Benitez (Dalian Yifang) Although only recently moving to China after ending his reign at Newcastle, the proposition of taking over at Arsenal would likely be too hard for the Spaniard to refuse. He would bring endless experience to the role, however, his appointment would not be a long-term solution. Getty Images The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 6. Eddie Howe (Bournemouth) The Englishman has been considered by a host of top Premier League teams but usually as a second-choice. Could Arsenal be the ones to throw their weight behind him after such a successful spell at Bournemouth? Getty The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 5. Max Allegri (Free agent) The hugely successful former Juventus manager remains without a club after leaving the Italian champions in the summer after a disappointing Champions League run. He was included in Arsenal's shortlist to replace Arsene Wenger. AFP/Getty Images The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 4. Patrick Vieira (Nice) The former Arsenal captain has always been linked with a return to the club and would surely be interested in the role. The ball is instead with the Gunners' hierarchy to deem whether Vieira is ready after spells in New York and Nice. Getty The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 3. Freddie Ljungberg (Arsenal) If Unai Emery is dismissed, it's believed Ljungberg - his assistant - will at least be given a run of games to see whether he can carry the Gunners until the end of the season. If that spell turns out to be a success, there's no reason why Arsenal wouldn't continue with the well-liked Swede. Getty The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 2. Mikel Arteta (Manchester City assistant) Pep Guardiola's assistant came close to taking the job at Arsenal before Unai Emery's arrival. Whether he would be willing to depart the Premier League champions and a position as Guardiola's successor remains a doubt. However, after studying under the greatest manager in football today, the former Arsenal midfielder's potential is enormous and he's already garnered great respect from senior figures and players at City. PA The favourites to be next Arsenal manager 1. Carlo Ancelotti (Free agent) His sacking at Napoli has seen him become the favourite to take over at Arsenal. He was keen on the Tottenham job and, on a short-term basis, he could be seen as a safe pair of hands to guide Arsenal through a troubled period. AFP via Getty Images

A few potential candidates had been sounded out through intermediaries, however, and it is understood Arteta was one.

Assistant Freddie Ljungberg will now step up as interim, and there is a hope from some close to him that any good spell could see him given the job until the end of the season, not unlike Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.

Ancelotti and Nuno would bring with them Premier League pedigree while Allegri, who they have met with, has long sought a job in English football. However, there are some suggestions he is holding out for the Manchester United job.

Sources say that they are still some way off a full appointment. Arsenal decided in the international break to give Emery a run of "winnable" games until mid-December, in the hope they could restore the team's confidence and get things back on track, but it quickly became apparent after the 2-2 draw with Southampton that it would just make things worse.