Arsène Wenger has asked his players to show him what they are made of after admitting he has become concerned by Arsenal's poor recent form.
Wenger's name was synonymous with success in the English game at the start of his reign, yet Arsenal have found precious little of that commodity in recent times.
The Frenchman has not won a trophy in seven-and-a-half years and his team are currently sitting in in sixth, seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and 22 points adrift of the leaders, Manchester United.
Wenger, whose team have won just half of their home games this season, admitted on Tuesday that morale in the Arsenal camp was low following their latest reverse – a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Sunday.
He concedes his team's failure to deliver in big matches is a concern, and has called on the squad to bounce back with a win in Wednesday's derby against West Ham United, the rearranged fixture that was postponed on Boxing Day due to the London tube strike.
"What is worrying is just that we do not win the big games. The position we are in now is a bit backs to the wall," said Wenger. "We have to respond. I'm confident that we will, but the team was very down after the Chelsea game.
"[West Ham] is a very important game for us. We have to transform the potential we have shown in the [last] two games into points and [this] is a good opportunity to do it."
Wenger bristled at suggestions that his players do not have the same heart as Arsenal icons such as Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira and Martin Keown. "They care as much, if not more," he said.
Having watched Arsenal overturn a 10-point deficit to beat Spurs to third last year, Wenger insists the current gap is not as bad as many people would make out.
"The difference in points mathematically is not dramatic, but the consistency of our performances within games is what is worrying," he said.
"When you see how we played in the first half [at Chelsea], and how we played in the second half it is difficult to believe we are the same team. That is more worrying for me."
Although Arsenal fans generally support Wenger, the Frenchman's perceived stubbornness in the transfer market often grates with them.
The manager is understood to have a sizeable transfer kitty at his disposal, and has been linked with moves for Yoann Gourcuff, Mohamed Diamé, David Villa and Wilfried Zaha. Yet despite the window having been open for 22 days, no new names have been added to the squad.
Wenger sidestepped questions on Tuesday about a move for Lyon's Gourcuff, but hinted that the midfield is an area he is looking to strengthen.
Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta are out of the West Ham game, while doubts remain over the long-term fitness of Abou Diaby.
"We have [an issue in defensive midfield]," Wenger said. "It is a position where we are short. We are short when Arteta is not there because he is a player with a lot of experience. He gives us stability and you could see that in the last two [Premier League] games [when Arteta has been out]. It is a position where we are a bit vulnerable at the moment."
One of the options Wenger appears to be considering is lining up a move for the man who has impressed in the engine room of his next opponents.
Diamé joined the Hammers on a free transfer last summer, but the midfielder has attracted interest after it emerged that he has a £3.5million release clause in his contract.
"He has a great presence in the games. I've seen him in games where he's had a big impact," Wenger said of the Senegalese player.
"They have many players who can be dangerous, but he can drive the midfield."
One potential target Wenger denied he was ever interested in is the Crystal Palace forward Zaha, who is reportedly close to signing for Manchester United.
"We were never in for Zaha," Wenger said. "If he goes to Manchester United, good luck to him."
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