Arsenal legend Lee Dixon believes under fire Unai Emery has just five games to save his job.
The Spaniard goes into Saturday’s must-win clash against Southampton at the Emirates without a victory in four Premier League matches, and his 19 points behind fourth placed Manchester City.
Emery was given a vote of confidence by the Arsenal board just twelve days ago after their 2-0 loss at Leicester.
After facing the struggling Saints this weekend, Emery’s team meet Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League next Thursday.
Then they face Norwich, Brighton and West Ham in the Premier League – and it is last chance saloon for the Spaniard, according to Dixon.
The former Arsenal defender, who won four league titles, three FA Cups and the European Cup Winners Cup in a glittering 14-year career at the club, said: “This run of games is crucial for Emery.
“It is a perfect run. Almost a free hit. If Arsenal cannot get a chunk of points and consolidate a place in the top four then he is in trouble.
“If that does not happen then I think that will be it for Unai. He won’t be there in the New Year.”
After that run of games, the Gunners face a daunting Christmas fixture list which sees them meet Manchester City, Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Arsenal defender Bellerin admits the current predicament is taking its toll on Emery’s squad and has issued a rallying cry to the club’s supporters.
“It’s been hard as a player in the dressing room sometimes to deal with these situations,” said the Spaniard in a video posted on Arsenal’s Twitter account.
“I think it’s important as a club, as players, as fans, as anything (to know that) being divided is never the way forward.
“Everyone demands different things, everyone demands different changes, but I don’t think that’s the way.
“The (right) way is accepting who we are, what we have, getting everyone together, supporting each other, and that is the way that we can reach our goals because one doing one thing, the other one doing the other, it’s never going to work.”
