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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has today given his support for Remi Garde after his former player was linked with the Aston Villa job.

Garde is thought to be the front-runner for the job and keen on taking the position.

Wenger stated: "I am convinced he is a frontrunner.

"He has some problems to sort out with his assistants who work with Lyon. I believe it is a challenge he should take. Advice? You know our job is about personality and having the courage to live with your ideas.

(Image: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

"Honestly I have a lot of respect for all the managers at Villa. I believe Sherwood was not given time. [Paul] Lambert was not given time - I don't know why.

"Remi is an intelligent man who is now experienced. He will try to get his ideas across and hopefully he can work. They have five or six French players who have not all had an impact."

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed that his assistant managers ‘can not leave’ the club.

Coaches Bruno Genesio and Gerald Baticle are of interest to Aston Villa as Remi Garde, their No.1 target to replace sacked boss Tim Sherwood, is keen on having the pair work alongside him in his next role.

It’s unlikely that Garde, the ex-Lyon boss, would accept an offer from the claret and blues without his support network alongside him.

And Aulas told Le Progres today: “Rémi, I hope, will go to Aston Villa, he deserves a big English club.

“But an assistant under contract can not leave. And anyway a deputy can not ask that.”