Mikel Arteta says his Arsenal players must rebuild their connection with the club’s fans and change the “energy” around the team.

Arteta's first match as manager will be when Arsenal host Chelsea on Sunday, before a home meeting with Manchester United a few days later and Arteta is desperate for the Emirates crowd to provide his team with an emotional lift.

The team’s home form has collapsed this season, following a series of matches in which Arsenal’s players were booed by their own supporters. In the case of Granit Xhaka, his public falling out with the fans has led to him wanting to leave the club and return to Germany.

But Arsenal’s players celebrated passionately with their fans at Bournemouth, in Boxing Day’s 1-1 draw, and Arteta went over to the away supporters at the final whistle.

“I think energy is everything,” said Arteta. “In life, in football and in sports. If we are able to generate this, it will give us a lift.

“I was really pleased with how the fans treated the players against Bournemouth and I was happy that the players went to see the fans after the game as well because we need that connection. Slowly, we need to build that back to where it was. It's going to be very powerful for us to use that.