Arsenal currently sit nine points off the top four
Ray Parlour believes it could be three years before Arsenal can reach the top four again.
The club legend has watched his former side slump to 11th in this season’s table, with Mikel Arteta’s team currently nine points behind fourth-placed Liverpool in the race for a place in the Champions League
Parlour, who made 466 appearances during his 12 seasons at Highbury, has pointed to the current Premier League champions as an example that Arsenal should be following if they want to mix it with the European elite again any time soon.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the former England midfielder said: “He’s learned a little bit from Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola as well, but I would give him a chance.
“It might take a couple of transfer windows, look at Jurgen Klopp, he got an opportunity. He came into Liverpool and there was a plan.
“Arteta has got to show he’s got a plan going forward. It might take three years to try to challenge that top four or try to challenge for the league.
“But we know money does make it easier and that’s where the board come in.
“If they think they’ve got the right man, please give him a chance by giving him a little bit more money.
“I do think Arteta needs a couple of windows to get his own players in. (Arsenal technical director) Edu is going to be a big part of that.”
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa was their second loss in a row, having suffered a 2-1 reversal against Wolves last Tuesday.
Arteta’s men are next in action on Sunday when they host Leeds, with Marcelo Bielsa’s side one point above them in 10th after a run of three wins in their last four Premier League games.
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