Pep Guardiola has pleaded with Arsenal fans to be patient with boss Mikel Arteta, despite handing his Gunners side a comprehensive 4-1 defeat in the quarter-final of the League Cup on Tuesday.
Arteta's side were outplayed, going down early to a Gabriel Jesus goal and in the second half conceded more from Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Aymeric Laporte.
Arsenal now haven't won in any competition that isn't the Europa League since the first weekend in November, triggering crisis talks at the Emirates.
But Guardiola, who had Arteta as his assistant at City for the previous few seasons, insisted that his former colleague's project is sound and that he needs to be given time to execute it.
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He said: "I didn't speak with him. We'll speak the next days.
What can I say in our position as a manager we'll be judged by the results. Only I can say I was with him a long period, the most successful period our club had.
"Sometimes in our job we need time. It's time to be patient. He's an outstanding manager, incredible work ethic and puts the club in front of any decisions he has to make."
Pep added that it was pleasing to see his players rack up some goals after a relatively barren run in front of goal, but added that his club face a difficult period of the season ahead.
He added: "In the last two/three years we have scored a lot of goals but this year, we struggle. But of course, goals help. Players who didn't play, it's good for their rhythm.
"The Premier League is a different competition and we face the toughest period here, this month."
Arsenal will face Chelsea next on Boxing Day, with pressure mounting on their Spanish boss to turn results around before they face a relegation battle in the Premier League, where they haven't won in their last seven matches.
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