Roy Keane was confident that Mikel Arteta deserved time at Arsenal even when Chelsea put them to the sword last term as calls grew for the Spaniard to be axed.
The Blues were the second team to beat the Gunners last season after their opening night loss at Brentford. They were dominated by the west Londoners before they went to Manchester City six days later and lost 5-0, leaving them rooted to the foot of the Premier League table.
It was the club's worst start since 1954 as some began to question whether Arteta, then beginning his second full season as boss, had what it took to deliver at the club he previously played at.
Chelsea's dominance saw them cruise to the three points with Reece James and Romelu Lukaku scoring. They hardly got out of second gear as Arsenal struggled to live with them, but Keane was adamant the Spaniard deserved more of a chance. He aired concerns over their lack of leaders, but stuck by the man in the dugout.
He said on Sky Sports : "Arteta's had 20 months. I'd give him a bit longer, you have to give the manager longer. We see Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] having two or three years before he made progress, Jurgen Klopp too, but it takes a little bit of time. Arsenal have a lot of very good potential young players, but it's just potential.
"It won't happen overnight, but the fans want to see signs of progress. Sometimes the fans want to hear 'we've got a project and we'll be good in two years' time' or whatever, and if that is what the club are doing buying young players, then you have to give them a chance.
"That's when you need your senior players to help these young kids along, and I don't think Arsenal have the top-quality senior players with good habits to help the young lads.
"I thought the fans stuck with them today and the Arsenal players tried, but they lacked leadership. There's a softness to them and that's not a quick fix. It'll be there next week and your good young players might get you out of jail one time, but in the long-term, there's a long way back for Arsenal."
Following their third defeat of the season - which saw them point-less, goalless and with a goal difference of minus nine - they won six of the next eight as they hauled themselves back into the top-four hunt. They eventually missed out due to a late collapse.
This term, after some shrewd summer additions, the Gunners put themselves in a position to claim a first league title since 2004, although a run of four games without a win has seen them slip to second with Manchester City now heavy favourites to retain their crown.
Nevertheless Keane has hailed the set-up at the Emirates this season, particularly those who wanted to stick by Arteta. He said: "We've seen clubs up and down the country panicking, making bad decisions at board level. Arsenal look like they've got the balance right with the people upstairs, a bit of calmness and loyalty to the manager."
Arsenal host Chelsea on Tuesday night, knowing a win can take them back to the top of the league, albeit they will have played two games more than their rival. The Gunners have already secured a win over the Blues this term, picking up three points at Stamford Bridge thanks to a Gabriel goal.
