Emmanuel Eboue says he “still loves” the Arsenal fans and has backed his former club to secure a top-four finish this season.

The 29-year-old defender left the Gunners to join Galatasaray in 2011 and featured for the Turkish club in Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League quarter-final defeat by Real Madrid.

Eboue, who made 214 appearances for the north Londoners, confesses that he is still very much an Arsenal supporter – and expects Arsene Wenger’s men to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

“I’m still an Arsenal supporter,” he told Sky Sports. “I’m always with them and I always pray for them to get a trophy for the club.

“Of course [Arsenal can finish in the top four]. We always believe in Wenger and though it will be difficult, I know that we can catch them.

“I just want to say to the Arsenal fans that I still love them. I’m not going to forget them. They are in my heart, I love them so much.”