Under-fire Emery seeks fan support in Arsenal's Europa League clash

SHOWS: LONDON COLNEY, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 27, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNAI EMERY SAYING:

"We know our supporters are disappointed but we have an opportunity tomorrow to come back, that's the relationship that emanates, with our supporters and to connect with them, and that's really really the focus.

"I know some teams they are coming here fearless, playing fearless against us, and we need to be strong with our supporters. But first I know, we need to be (unclear) with them, first we need to show them. But really my wish is tomorrow every supporter helps the team, helps the players, because we need them."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNAI EMERY SAYING:

"They are angry and they are now disappointed, but as well we are. Tomorrow we have a very good opportunity again to change that, this is my wish and this is also my idea and create a (unclear) for our supporters.

"Each match here at the Emirates is very important and we need also their support, and above all the players more than me, because they are the players and they are on the pitch and they need to feel backing, backing them on the pitch for 90 minutes."

STORY: Arsenal manager Unai Emery said on Wednesday (November 27) that he hopes the club's supporters get behind the team in Thursday's Europa League match against Eintracht Frankfurt after a string of poor results increased pressure on the Spanish manager to deliver.

Arsenal are winless in six games in all competitions and a five-match winless run in the Premier League saw them drop to eighth in the standings, with disillusioned fans constantly voicing their displeasure over their failure to win.

Group leaders Arsenal can seal progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League with a win over Frankfurt and Emery said he hopes to "connect" with the disappointed fanbase and win them over.

Emery said midfielder Granit Xhaka could return to the squad for the first time since his vocal outburst in October during a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace when he swore at home fans on being substituted and was later stripped of the captain's armband.

Emery said earlier this month that he was unsure whether the Swiss international would play for the club again.

When questioned about his own future at the club with British media linking candidates to take over if he was sacked, Emery said: "My job is to prepare for the match tomorrow and to look at only the match tomorrow."

(Production: Andy Ragg)