Ray Parlour has urged Arsenal fans to be patient with Unai Emery, telling talkSPORT he is ‘amazed’ by calls for the manager to be sacked after just eight months in charge.
The Gunners legend says the team are ‘where they should be at the moment’, admitting they are not at the same level as Liverpool, Manchester City or rivals Tottenham.
Some unhappy supporters turned on Spanish boss Emery after their 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
The result severely dented Arsenal’s top-four hopes as they slid down the Premier League table to sixth place, with Manchester United leapfrogging them into fifth.
The Gunners looked well off the pace compared to the defending champions and fans are blaming boss Emery for their side’s dip in form, having won just four games since their amazing 22-match unbeaten run was ended by Southampton in December.
Twitter was awash with #EmeryOut following Sunday’s loss, and Parlour told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “I’m amazed by that.
“Arsenal are where they are meant to be at the moment. They’re not at the same level as Liverpool, Man City or even Spurs.
“You’ve got to give this guy a chance, he needs to be backed by the club.
“You can’t sack the manager already and Arsenal are not that sort of club anyway.
“Realistically I think you’ve got to give him a few transfer windows. I know he only brought in one player in January, but I think it’s going to take two or three windows to get the players he wants into the side.
“Certainly I think he’s the man to take the club forward, and now he’s got to be backed by the board.
“Any manager is going to struggle if they haven’t got players to bring in.
“You expect Man City, Man United and Chelsea to all spend and sign big players, so we’ve just got the stay in the hunt and try and compete with those clubs.
“What wins you trophies is better players, that’s what Arsenal have to get if they’re going to do that, especially defensively.
“Realistically it’s going to take time. You’ve got to give him a chance. To say ‘Emery Out’ already, it’s harsh.”