Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be a success at the Emirates Stadium if he is given time and he sticks to his philosophy, according to Cesc Fabregas.
The pair are both remembered for their spells with the Gunners, but never played together. When Cesc departed for Barcelona in 2011, Arteta was his replacement.
READ MORE:
Arsenal: 2020-21 mid-season report card
Aubameyang hits back at Kroos' 'silly celebrations' attack
Nevertheless, Monaco midfielder Fabregas has been impressed with what he has seen from Pep Guardiola’s former right-hand man since he took over in December 2019.
Although it has not all been plain sailing – Arsenal currently lie 11th in the Premier League – Fabregas has urged the board and fans to show patience with the Spaniard and allow him to develop his team.
“Listen, it's a transition period,” 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% sure. Maybe they still need a little bit more time.”
Time 'key' for Arteta, says Fabregas
Drawing from his own experience, he says it is more productive to give managers leeway and an opportunity to build.
“That's they key nowadays, especially from what I've seen in the last four or five years with coaches that I've had,” he said. “They come with an idea, they try to start with that idea, but as soon as something goes wrong, they become a little bit... not scared, but they prefer to get results and get confidence, rather than keep going with their philosophy or their ideas and lose.”
Arteta is not under any pressure currently at the Emirates, and after the international break his side will first face Leeds in what promises to be a busy pre-Christmas period.
Cesc Fabregas 
Arsenal 
Chelsea 
