Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have both spoken out to back manager Arsene Wenger, despite the team’s recent struggles on the pitch.

Over the weekend, Arsenal lost their 12th game of the season, as many as they lost in the entire 2016/17 campaign. You could forgive the club’s January signings for being a bit worried about what they’ve signed up for. Even with all the talk about Wenger’s job though, Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang both told Sky Sports they’re behind the boss.

“It’s a pleasure to work with [Wenger],” said the Armenian. “He knows a lot about football, he can give you good advice, and I’m very happy to be here.

“Of course it’s not very easy for him either, but we have to play for the club, play for him. He is a big role model for this team, big person at this club. We have to do our best to show we are ready to fight for him.”

In the 29-year-old’s case, he’s clearly enjoying the change in footballing style from Jose Mourinho. He only needs one more assist to match his creative output with Manchester United this season.

Aubameyang, on the other hand, was already performing well with Dortmund. Despite a debut goal, he hasn’t fully got going with Arsenal just yet. Nonetheless, he still thinks he made the right choice to join the club, and puts the responsibility on the players to give their all for Wenger now.

“I think it is a difficult moment, but I think we’ve played against great teams,” he said. “I think we just have to be united, keep going, working hard and that’s the way to follow.

“He is a great manager, everyone knows it. OK, it is not an easy moment, but we have to give our best to show him that we play for him and give everything for him.”

Arsenal have the perfect opportunity to do just that on Thursday night. After such a limp performance against Manchester City at the weekend, they’re lucky enough to face Guardiola’s side again.

Of course it’ll be a tough match, but that’s exactly the type of game they need to prove themselves in. Hopefully they can do so.