Nice coach Patrick Vieira admits the demise of former club Arsenal is a "surprise".

Vieira saw himself overlooked for the manager's job at Arsenal as they went for another former captain in Mikel Arteta.

He told the Daily Mail: "I'm surprised but the challenge came from other teams.

"Arsenal stayed at the same level but the other teams kept improving. You don't have time to go without improving the team. You have to spend, find players that can take you to a different level.

"But Mikel Arteta spent a lot of time with Pep and the City Group, and he's doing a really good job."