Martin Keown believes the only chance Unai Emery has at being at Arsenal next season is if his side qualify for the Champions League.
The Gunners boss is under increasing pressure after a poor start to the campaign, which has seen his side win two of their last 10 Premier League games.
Arsenal fans have started to turn on their manager, with many calling for the Spaniard to be sacked after their 2-0 defeat to Leicester before the international break.
It appears Emery still has the backing of the club’s hierarchy,but Keown believes Emery has got to make the Gunners more competitive.
“If he gets Arsenal Football Club into the Champions League then he has a chance of staying there,” the Arsenal Invincible told talkSPORT.
“That is not a given either as if you look at the performances, and the goalkeeper, [Bernd] Leno has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League.
“Arsenal are not competitive all over the pitch, it doesn't just disappear because we have had an international break. He has got to make them competitive.”
While the former England international also delivered his verdict on Granit Xhaka’s situation at the club.
The Swiss international is expected to return to the Gunners squad for this weekend’s game against Southampton at the Emirates, having not played since his controversial substitution against Crystal Palace last month.
And Keown believes Emery played a part in the incident, by handing the midfielder the captain’s armband.
“He picked him as captain and it was completely against the wishes of the fans,they were ready for him to come out of the team,” he added.
“Not only did he keep him in the team but he made him captain. If we were to look back at the beginning of the end for Emery, and we haven’t got there yet, you would really have to say it manifested itself with the choice of his captain.”
“Well if he comes in and does well then there has got to be a way back. The fans weren’t brilliant in their behaviour but if he apologised straight away then we can all examine ourselves.
“Where is the club leadership? Surely the club’s board members should have applied pressure. Maybe Emery should have come out said I expected the player to make a statement earlier than he did, and I haven’t heard any of that.
“I know the manager maybe finds himself in a difficult position, because his position has got even more difficult because of his failure to manage that situation good enough.”
