Nicolas Pepe insists Arsenal's players must do more to improve their fortunes at the Emirates.
The Gunners are languishing in 10th in the Premier League after winning just one of their last nine matches, and were well beaten by Manchester City on Sunday.
Interim boss Freddie Ljungberg has failed to revitalise his former club, with Mikel Arteta now the frontrunner to take over at the Emirates.
Arsenal held talks with Arteta earlier this week with the former skipper in line for his first managerial job.
Pepe has defended Ljungberg and warned the onus is on Arsenal's players to perform, whether Arteta comes in or not.
“Freddie tries hard, he talks to us, but nothing has changed much in terms of results. It is down to us the players, not the coach.
We will continue to work hard to make things better and win again.
“Us players have to do better quickly. We have won only one game out of the last 12. It is not enough, we are Arsenal.
“It is about us, not the coach or anything else. We have to wake up quickly, starting against Everton .”
Arteta could well be in charge for the trip to Goodison Park on Saturday, having also been on Everton's radar after sacking Marco Silva.
And Carlo Ancelotti, who was an Arsenal target after being axed by Napoli, could be in the opposition dugout.
Mirror Sport reported this week that Arteta faces an early battle to win over Arsenal senior players, who wanted the experienced Ancelotti to come in instead.
