Arsene Wenger: 'Steve McClaren needs time at Newcastle United'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has urged Newcastle United to give Steve McClaren time in order to turn the club's fortunes around.

The Magpies currently sit in the relegation zone at the halfway stage of the season, two points from safety having managed just four league wins all campaign - the first of which did not come until October.

However, Wenger believes that McClaren has the squad at his disposal to improve things ahead of the two sides' meeting at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

"He has only just joined the club. Newcastle is a very exciting project because it's a very big club and it's a fantastic and exciting job for a manager like Steve McClaren, but it is a long-term job," Wenger told reporters.

"[Newcastle] has a huge potential and in six months it's impossible to transform a club of that stature into a club competing for the Premier League. Give him time. I know that patience is not the first quality in our society but, unfortunately to be successful, you need it. They had a difficult start and they lacked a little bit of confidence.

"That always shows at home more than away from home. Away from home they have had quite good results and performances. If you look at their squad, they have good players in all areas. Up front they have Papiss Cisse, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ayoze Perez. In the middle of the park they have players like Moussa Sissoko and Georginio Wijnaldum who can make a difference as well, so they are a dangerous team to play."

Arsenal go into the match sitting top of the table, level on points with Leicester City but above the Foxes on goal difference.