Arsenal duo Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang urge teammates to fight for Arsene Wenger

The Gunners welcome Manchester City back to London just four days after the EFL Cup final

Wenger brought in both Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang last month (Getty)

Arsenal’s two new-boys Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have both come out in support of Arsene Wenger and urged their teammates to fight for his future amid reports he could leave at the end of the season.

The Independent reported this week that the Gunners had created a shortlist of potential candidates to replace Wenger this summer, with Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim their number one target, as the pressure was heaped on the whole club to make changes in the wake of the lacklustre performance against Manchester City in the EFL Cup final on Sunday.

Arsenal have the perfect opportunity to avenge that 3-0 defeat on Thursday night at home to the probable champions-elect however, and the two former Borussia Dortmund teammates are urging their new colleagues to fight for Wenger, amid reports that the players held a crisis meeting without their boss this week.

“It's not the easiest time for the club, but we are here to help, do our best, and put Arsenal on the level that it was before. I know it's not going to be easy, but we're trying, and doing our best,” Mkhitaryan, who joined from Manchester United in January, told Sky Sports.

“It's a pleasure to work with [Wenger]. 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, because he is a big role model for this team, big person at this club, so we have to do our best to show we are ready to fight for him.”

Wenger suggested on Wednesday that if the club wanted him to leave this summer then they would have to sack him as he is “just an employee” and Aubameyang admitted this was “not an easy moment” for his new boss.

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

“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.”