Mikel Arteta has admitted that he needs to win over his Arsenal players before attempting to get the Emirates crowd on side.
Spaniard Arteta will lead the Gunners out in front of their own supporters for the first time since replacing Unai Emery as manager on Sunday - when Chelsea travel to north London.
The former midfielder endured a 1-1 draw with strugglers Bournemouth on his dug out debut - although the performance showed signs of improvement on recent dire outings.
Arteta accepts there has been a toxic atmosphere at the Emirates recently, but insists that is not his immediate priority.
“First I need to convince the players,” he said. “Then, if I can convince the players, afterwards we can convince the fans. I think it’s very, very important in my job.
“We play for them. At the end of the day, they’re expecting a lot from us.
“We have to give them enjoyment, we have to make their lives better and when we win, it will be better because they will be happier.
“It’s our responsibility and we have to do everything we can to achieve that. Hopefully we can change it.
“I think energy is everything, in life in football and in sports,” he said “If we are able to generate this, it will give us a lift.
“I was really pleased with how the fans treated the players today 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.”
Chelsea should be a tough opening clash for Arteta, but after five defeats in their last seven matches, Frank Lampard's men are on a silde.
“I know they lost at home again but they are a terrific team, so it will be a really good test for us,” Arteta said.
“What I want now is to review the Bournemouth game, go through the individual and collective issues that we had, the positives and negatives to try to convince the players that if they do more of this then they will be more comfortable in the game.
“Then we’ll be closer to winning football games.”
