Arsenal legend Lee Dixon is hopeful that his old side are progressing under manager Unai Emery.

The Spaniard took over from Arsene Wenger in the summer, with many Gunners fans hoping it will change their fortunes in the Premier League.

Arsenal missed out on the top four in each of the last two seasons under Wenger.

"But it goes back to time again, I'm still hopeful," Dixon said to the Daily Star of his team's progression under Emery.

"I've got a few people who are still at the club that I know and what's going on on the training pitch is very encouraging.

"That's the thing I'm hanging onto to say 'No this team will get better'.

"It's whether the players and the recruitment from now until the end of the season, through another window and with another window in the summer, he's going to need a couple of windows in order to put his stamp on the team.

"It's looking very difficult at the moment with the top four, so I think there's got to be a lot of improvement, not only with different personal over the next couple of years but a different change in mentality that gets them a little bit more consistent without the ball."