Gilberto Silva has urged Arsenal to be patient with manager Mikel Arteta despite the club's worst start to a league campaign since 1981.
The Gunners head into Sunday's North London derby in awful form, having lost five of their opening 10 Premier League games while scoring just 10 goals, and the pressure has since ramped up on Arteta.
And things get no easier for Arsenal - who sit 14th - when they make the short trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday to take on Jose Mourinho's table-toppers.
But Arsenal Invincible Gilberto insists he is still 'really positive' about the future under Arteta and has called on the club to stand by their man - claiming they would be back to square one if they were to eventually replace him.
Gilberto said: 'The thing for me now is that this will take time. You can't expect change overnight.
'You have to give Mikel Arteta time. I'm really positive about him but in the meantime I think they need to sign a few more players to make them more competitive.'
The Arsenal legend, who admitted he was surprised that Arsenal didn't opt for a more experienced manager to replace Unai Emery, also called on the players to stand up and be counted for and urged them to show more fighting spirit.
Gilberto added: 'His approach has been good. When I see him speak, I really like the way he talks about the club, the team and his ideas.
'He's very clear and very honest, and that's important, because you're in one of the toughest jobs in the world. You must be very confident and have a strong mentality to be in that position.
'I think you have to trust his project. You made the decision to appoint the guy. I believe they interviewed other managers and decided to go for Arteta - so if you change your mind now just because results haven't been the best so far this season and he hasn't had instant success in the league, then you run the risk of being back at square one and having to start all over again.
'It's time for the players to stand up. Stand up and realise which club they are playing for, who they're representing. It's time for them to pull together and motivate each other. Sometimes it's not about if you play bad, it's about what you leave on the field, and the desire you must have. Run for your team-mates. Fight for your team.
'It's that fighting spirit which Arsenal needs now from everybody at the club in order to turn results around. I'm not saying there's no fighting spirit there already, but what they've been doing has not been enough in order for them to get results. They need to put more in.'
Arsenal head into Sunday's derby as underdogs following both side's respective starts to the season, but there would be no better place for Arteta to silence his critics than with a victory at Tottenham.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will also be desperate to prove his critics wrong on Sunday following his alarming slump in front of goal so far this season.
The Arsenal talisman has scored just twice in the Premier League - with his only goal from open play coming on the opening day of the season against Fulham.
Gilberto Silva, speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes at its launch of the 5-A-Side Bet on Tottenham v Arsenal
Rozeloprt
0
give someone atleast a 2to 3 years to prove them wrong
Vimbeilop
0
sack him now be for it too late
Really
Vadaenory
0
Exactly Gilberto silver is right the players've to stand up n realise which club they're playing for who they're representing.
Pohdioprst
0
Loosing 5 games is too much, he must be sucked after London derby. The club is just too big for him, they must bring pochentino is better.
Hueabdeity
1
SawHotz
1
100 years later, fans are still waiting for Arsenal to change
Your club is only 16 years old, how come you know what happened 100 years ago?
Coniklmz
0
give him a time but fans can end up relagation
cuhakntyz
1
sack him now be for it too late
Anti786
0
Exactly
youngbutty0626
0
I don't know why people criticise arteta for not playing ozil. pls I want to ask a question, the whole time ozil has been there did they win a premier League? champions League? or has he qualified them for champions League? the number of times they won the FA cup cos that's wat they've won check well ozils role is either v v little or nothing so why criticise arsernal now? arsene Wenger was pampering them w their laziness now they're waking up though slowly, if arteta wasn't the right man aubameyang would've left, partey not coming, Gabriel heading to city
okay tell me what is the arteta bring come since there,1. 2nd since you re watching arsenal match when you re see poor like this, all those players you called come to play in big club not for coach,so that one is not word , are you trying to tell us that ozil is not a good player or what if you have good thing show it not hide it
RaiyanHasib
1
Just like Chelski before they got their blood oil money
you are so ashamed of your own team that you use Dortmund's badge to Defend.
vopacimor
0
Why will Arteta don't have great interest in a player like Ozil. Who is Saka to play in front of Ozil. Arteta is not doing well at all. He is wearing what doesn't fit him.
[image]
Before arteta arrived Ozil for the past 2 years became inconsistent and lazy with the wenger regime
kueaksyz
2
I don't know why people criticise arteta for not playing ozil. pls I want to ask a question, the whole time ozil has been there did they win a premier League? champions League? or has he qualified them for champions League? the number of times they won the FA cup cos that's wat they've won check well ozils role is either v v little or nothing so why criticise arsernal now? arsene Wenger was pampering them w their laziness now they're waking up though slowly, if arteta wasn't the right man aubameyang would've left, partey not coming, Gabriel heading to city
ishti
1
Why do they want to destroy Arsenal? 😬
jazeel24
3
still waiting for arsenal to get in the champions league
chelseabbe
1
Just like Chelski before they got their blood oil money
at least Chelsea are playing a better FB than Arsenal, good position in the league and Champions League. how about Arsenal?
Opkelly
0
Why will Arteta don't have great interest in a player like Ozil. Who is Saka to play in front of Ozil. Arteta is not doing well at all. He is wearing what doesn't fit him.
tamcdkmst
1
100 years later, fans are still waiting for Arsenal to change
Just like Chelski before they got their blood oil money
lawalidris
2
That is what you get when you engaged apprentice instead of experience coach to be incharge of a big team like Arsenal. A must win game for the London derby. The missing link still the Ozil.
chelseabbe
1
100 years later, fans are still waiting for Arsenal to change
Gunners4ever❤
0
Ok.
Opkelly
3
A time you say. Fans will end up like this.