Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit has delivered a stinging verdict on Unai Emery, urging the club to sack the manager because the players have 'given up' on him.

Frenchman Petit played for the club for three years between 1997 and 2000, winning the Premier League and FA Cup under Arsene Wenger.

But the former midfielder says he no longer recognises the club and feels they have become 'average' and lack spirit and hunger under Emery's leadership, calling for a leader synonymous with Arsenal like Thierry Henry or Patrick Vieira.

Unai Emery has come under intense pressure with Arsenal struggling to pick up points

Former Gunners star Petit believes the team have become average and given up on Emery

He urged a change in leadership after watching Arsenal's 'terrible' performance against Leicester on Saturday, where they were comfortably beaten 2-0.

The club are currently fifth in the Premier League table after taking 17 points from 12 games and have just one win in their last five games.

'I believe it's time for Unai Emery to leave Arsenal,' he said, speaking to Paddy Power.

'The results are not good at all. I don't recognise this team anymore and I don't recognise this club any more.

'Now they look like an average team without any inspiration or creativity - and I don't think that's solely down to the players. My opinion is that most of the players have given up on Emery, so it's time for him to go.'

Petit was successful during his time in north London and played in a team that won the league

Emery watches on in despair as Arsenal slump to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Leicester City

He said the Gunners had 'no spirit and no hunger' in their defeat to the Foxes, adding: 'I wondered to myself, "What is going on at this club? What is happening to this club?"

Emery received a surprise public backing by Arsenal this week, saying results must improve but that he was 'the right man for the job', although Petit isn't buying the vote of confidence and feels it's just a matter of time before they wield the axe.

'What the club came out and said about Emery's job being safe is not true at all. Everyone knows this, the typical official language clubs send out to the press and fans when things are not going well, when they sense tension.

Thierry Henry has tasted management at Monaco but was sacked after just a few months

Another Arsenal favourite in Patrick Vieira led Nice to a seventh-placed finish in his first season

'This is a political answer and most of the time when I hear officials or shareholders talk like this it's proof for me that they're already thinking about sacking the manager.

He thinks Arsenal should appoint a club legend in Emery's place, and has earmarked ex-Monaco boss Thierry Henry, current Nice manager Patrick Vieira or Freddie Ljungberg, as he called for 'electricity' to bring passion back to the team.

'People may laugh at me but I wouldn't mind seeing a former player on the bench,' he added. 'Is there a former Arsenal great you can call, like Thierry Henry or Patrick Vieira? Pick one: there are so many. You even have Freddie Ljungberg already in the dugout.

'I want to see passion, emotion. Someone who, when he takes your hand, you can feel the electricity. I want someone who can bring that to the Arsenal dressing room, because they need to wake up.'