Former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has suggested that certain players are not stepping up to help save manager Arsene Wenger's job.

The long-serving boss is under intense pressure to step aside in the summer following another underwhelming campaign that has left the Gunners battling for silverware in the Europa League.

With Arsenal 13 points adrift of the top four in the Premier League ahead of Sunday's meeting against Stoke City, Silva has insisted that members of the playing squad must start taking some responsibility as Wenger has done all that he possibly can.

"I worked with Wenger for such a long time," he told Sky Sports News. "As I know him, he's a person who loves the game and wants to win things. He sacrifices himself for the players and for the club. At the moment things are hard, but he's trying the best he can to handle the pressure and get the best out of his players.

"All the time the pressure is on him, but there comes a time when you have to question what the players can bring back to him because he trusts them. It's about somebody standing up and holding the pressure for somebody who believes in them.

"All the questions in the media talk about whether it's time for Wenger to go or if he lost his appetite. It's not about this; it's about the players at the club supporting him as long as he stays in the club."

Gilberto won the Premier League with Arsenal in 2004, as well as lifting the FA Cup in 2003 and 2005.