Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has defended manager Mikel Arteta after his spell in charge of the club has hit some speed bumps.
Arteta impressed fans and pundits towards the end of last season as he led the team to an FA Cup win against the odds.
But they have made a poor start in the Premier League this season, and lost 3-0 to Aston Villa at home before the international break.
They have lost four of eight Premier League games this term.
“Listen, it’s a transition period,” Fabregas told 90min. “Mikel has his ideas, but it takes time.
“The problem for a coach nowadays is that you have no time. You lose three games, everyone is asking for your head.
“I know it’s very, very difficult because you want to implement your ideas, and it’s a process.
“Sometimes, it’s difficult because football is moving very quickly, everyone wants to win, there’s pressure from the board, from the fans, from the players. You’re on the spot every single day.
“He’s trying to find his team.
“They have [Dani] Ceballos, they have [Granit] Xhaka, now they’ve added Thomas Partey from Atletico, who’s a very good player as well. They have Willian, they have [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang – top, top players, that’s 100 per cent sure.
“Maybe they still need a little bit more time.”
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