Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen is confident home fans are with them.

Arsenal's fans have been criticised in some quarters for turning on both the players and manager Arsene Wenger at certain stages of the season.

But Vermaelen reserved special praise for the supporters who stuck by the team during the defeat to City, despite the visitors easing to victory.

"That [the fan's backing] is really important and I'm pleased with that," he said. "That can give us a massive boost that they're behind us, and they did that through the whole game.

"It was difficult for us because we had 10 men, and for them as well, but they supported us through the whole game."