Ray Parlor fears another dismal Arsenal effort against Norwich

Ex-Arsenal player Ray Parlor admitted he was “worried” for Mikel Arteta’s side in their Premier League home game against Norwich, given the Gunners’ dismal form.

The elite returns after the international break with Arsenal rooted at the bottom of the table, with no points, no goals scored and nine conceded.

It’s the club’s worst start to the season in 118 years, and Parlor said that with the Arteta State side in attendance, newly-promoted Norwich will enter the competition on Saturday confident of securing a results.

Ray Parlor (left) has said he is ‘worried’ about Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side (right) against Norwich

“If you were at Norwich you would attack them for the first 15 minutes,†Parlor said. talkSPORT. “If Norwich scores first, the atmosphere will be different.

“You can imagine the supporters getting on their backs. Hope that doesn’t happen because I really want them to do well but I’m afraid if Norwich comes out of the traps and scores the first goal I’m afraid it will turn into an atmosphere that is not good to play.

Arsenal have already lost to a newly promoted side at Brentford in the season opener, and this despite any Premier League club’s maximum spend – £ 150million – in the transfer window of been on six new recruits.

Parlor said that while the intention to strengthen the squad is good, it will take time for new players to lie down at Arsenal and Arteta to develop them as part of his vision for the club.

Arsenal are at the bottom of the Premier League after their worst start to the league in 118 years

Another poor result against the Canaries, however, and Parlor fears the calls for Arteta’s sacking will be even stronger.

“(Arsenal are) a long way from that top four at the moment, we all argued under Arsene Wenger that fourth place was not good enough,” he said.

“They are eighth and ninth now, which is not good enough. They brought in new players, they have to fold in the team. That’s the big question (will Arteta have enough time).

Parlor is far from being the only ex-Gunner to sound the alarm on what is happening in the Emirates.

SportsmailMartin Keown suggested Arsenal could be in a ‘relegation fight’ before long

Arsenal legend and Sportsmail Columnist Martin Keown has warned Arteta’s men could end up in a relegation crash unless they regain their fortunes immediately.

“You look at where they are now in the table, it puts even more pressure on the manager,†Keown said. talkSPORT.

“I don’t want to add words to this, but we have to see signs that someone is going to turn the tide, because then it becomes a relegation struggle.

“They’re going to have to win this game and try to turn it around.”