Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams says he is not overly concerned by his beloved club's slow start to the season, and has come to the defence of his former manager Arsene Wenger.
Ahead of Saturday's trip to Watford, the Gunners are in 13th position on the Premier League table after just one point from their opening two matches. They lost 4-3 at home to Liverpool in their opening game on Aug. 14 before a 0-0 draw at Leicester City last weekend.
But Adams, now Sport Director at Chinese Super League club Chongqing Lifan FC, insists there should be no reason for fans to press the panic button.
"We have a lot of players to come back in, and it was a good point last weekend away to the reigning champions," Adams told ESPN FC in an exclusive interview. "As for the match against Liverpool, you always do get some funny results in the first game of the new season."
Adams, who played more than 500 league games over 22 seasons at Arsenal as he won four English titles, added that he continued to support Wenger's philosophy as manager. The pair worked together for six years, winning two Premier League crowns.
However, he did admit that the team needed to tighten up at the back in the wake of long-term injuries to central defenders Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista.
"I admire Arsene for sticking to his financial principles, although I wish tactically he could get the balance right between defence and attack," Adams said.
The 49-year-old moved to China last month after a meeting with Chonging Lifan's owner during Euro 2016 in June.
Adams also filled in as Arsenal under-18 coach during the summer but denies that he had any long-term plan to stay in the role vacated by former teammate Thierry Henry.
"I said to [Arsenal head of academy] Andries Jonker that I would help out with the U18s for a month in between jobs, for free," he said. "It was great going back, and it really didn't feel like I had never been away. Hopefully, I pray that one day I will help out with the first team."
Before his latest position in China, Adams was sporting director at Azerbaijani club Gabala FK for four years, having previously served as manager in 2010-11.
Chongqing are 10th in the 16-team Chinese Super League and will next face Yanbian at home on Sept. 9.