Robert Pires hailed Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger for staying calm despite the supporters having turned on him in recent seasons.

A title chase looks off the cards for the Gunners this season, with Arsenal currently sitting 12 points behind Manchester City in the Premier League table. And with the North London derby against Spurs coming up, it’s a worrying time for Arsenal, even if they only want a top-four spot.

But Pires hasn’t lost faith in Wenger, as he told ESPN: “For me, he’s still the man. He has done well for a long, long time. Sometimes it’s difficult with a lot of pressure from the fans and media, but he’s always very relaxed and confident”

Against Manchester City, Wenger came in for a lot of criticism for his squad selection as well the defeat. He dropped Alexandre Lacazette and chose Alexis Sanchez in attack and he was well off his best. Arsenal will need to be a lot more impressive if they’re going to get a result against Tottenham.

Questions are going to land at Wenger’s door when Alexandre Lacazette isn’t starting matches and Francis Coquelin is playing at centre-back. Neither decision proved particularly costly, with Lacazette scoring anyway and Coquelin not at fault for the goals.

But many fans can’t help feeling that things could’ve been different had the Gunners started with Lacazette and a back four in the first place. Pires, however, still believes the right man is in charge of Arsenal.