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Rodgers and Vieira backed for Arsenal post

BRENDAN RODGERS has been backed into favouritism to replace Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager after the long-serving Gunners boss announced he would be ending his near 22-year service in north London at the end of the current campaign.

The shock news caught most people on the hop and early market leader Thomas Tuchel was first challenged by Patrick Vieira before an afternoon move for Rodgers, who has halved in price from opening quotes of 12-1.

“Rodgers and Vieira have both been overwhelmingly well backed,” said Betway’s Alan Alger and bet365’s Steve Freeth added: “There has been solid support for Rodgers all day in a lively market.”

BoyleSports’ Leon Blanche said: “Rodgers is the biggest mover, although punters are also behind Vieira”, while Betfred’s Pete Spencer said betting interest on the market was “phenomenal.”

Celtic’s Rodgers has Premier League experience with Liverpool but Vieira is only just on the first-team managerial path at New York City, although he does have the allure of being a club legend having skippered the Gunners Invincibles in 2003-04.

Vieira went as low as 3-1 but was back out to 8-1, the same price as Germany’s national team boss Joachim Low and just below 13-2 drifter Tuchel in the market.

Reports have suggested Tuchel is set for a move to Paris St-Germain, although he was briefly favourite with Hills, becoming the sixth different market leader to replace Wenger since the market opened in 2012.

The others were Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Eddie Howe, Joachim Low and David Moyes with Hills now preferring Vieira.

Luis Enrique, who had a strong working relationship with Raul Sanllehi, Arsenal’s new head of football relations, during their time together at Barcelona ranges from 5-1 and 10-1.

Coral are betting on Wenger’s next managerial job with the French national team at 7-2.

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