Arsenal boss Arteta welcomes Ashburton Army's tifo plans today | OneFootball

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says the fans will be crucial today against Manchester United.

Arsenal go into Saturday's home game with Manchester United in fifth place, level on points with Tottenham but with an inferior goal difference. They are three points ahead of United, having played one game fewer.

A supporters group called Ashburton Army are planning a tifo display prior to kick-off on Saturday, as they want the fans to 'play our part to continue to support the players and the manager to keep on going.'

Arteta welcomed the idea, when asked about it in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“I am really pleased to hear all of those things because that initiative means that they are really engaged with the team," he said.

“They want to show them they are with the team, that they want to participate and they feel like they are really participating in the success of the team.

“I've always said that if we make this stadium a fortress it will be really difficult not to be successful. They have a big, big part to play and hopefully tomorrow they can help us do that."