Paul Merson reckons Arsenal missed the golden opportunity to sack Unai Emery, adding the Spaniard is fortunate to still be in a job.
The Gunners have struggled under Emery this season, and a section of the fanbase have started to get on his back.
The board have come out in support of the Arsenal boss in recent weeks, despite results continuing to go against the club.
Emery is in little danger of being sacked at the moment, but former Gunners midfielder Merson thinks Arsenal need to reconsider their stance.
He says the club have regressed under the Spaniard, and that they should have parted company with him at the start of the international break.
"Looking at what's to come with Arsenal, the fixtures, I think he's there for the long run," Merson told Sky Sports.
"I think this was a prime [time] to say 'right, let's get someone in, this hasn't worked, bring a manager in, got five or six unbelievable football games to come up, get off to a great start, and then we go from there'.
"I think he's very fortunate."
Arsene Wenger left the Gunners after 22 years in charge when things started going wrong for the Frenchman.
Wenger's Arsenal won 85 points from a possible 150 in his final 50 games in charge, while Emery's Gunners have collected just 87 in his first 50 in charge.
The stats suggest Arsenal have made little progression under Emery, and Merson believes they've actually regressed.
"I don't see any change at Arsenal. They don't keep clean sheets, they let in goals for fun and do you know the worst thing about it now?
"They don't even really look like scoring goals, which is the thing with me.
"With Arsenal, they always looked like they were going to score goals, even though they would be ropy at the back. But I don't see that happening now.
