Tuesday 11 April 2017 12:47, UK
Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini admits he has sympathy with Gunners fans left frustrated by ongoing issues at the club.
The Frenchman came off the bench for Crystal Palace as the Eagles secured a 3-0 win over his old side on Monday night, inflicting a seventh defeat in 12 games on an Arsenal outfit looking bereft of confidence.
After falling behind to goals from Andros Townsend, Yohan Cabaye and a Luka Milivojevic penalty, scores of travelling fans turned on boss Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal players towards the end of the Selhurst Park clash.
Chants including "Arsene Wenger, we want you to go", "We want Wenger out" and "You're not fit to wear the shirt" were clearly audible inside the ground, with Arsenal's players then subjected to verbal abuse as they headed for the team coach.
"I understand also the frustration of the fans because they are such a big club and they want their team winning and it is not an easy situation," Flamini said.
"It is difficult for me to comment from the outside what is happening with Arsenal. Results are not what they want, that is for sure. But they have a lot of quality."
As well as a dreadful run of form which has seen Arsenal drop out of the Premier League title picture and face an uphill battle to finish in the top four, there has also been a backdrop of protests over Wenger's future.
The Frenchman is yet to announce whether he will sign a new deal or end his two-decade spell at the helm when his current contract expires at the end of the season.
Pressed on the matter following the defeat, Wenger said it was "inconvenient" to discuss his future and he has often claimed the uncertainty has had no affect on his players, despite their alarming slide.
A 10-2 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League caused further heartache for Arsenal fans, with Flamini counting himself among them.
"It is painful because I am still an Arsenal fan. I spent many years over there so my heart is white and red," Flamini added.
"I really hope they will make it because they deserve to be in the Champions League. It is such an amazing club. The season is not finished. There are many games ahead. I believe they can do it. It is up to them.
"I saw Arsene [Wenger]. Of course everyone is disappointed. When you are a big club you want to win every game, so that is normal."
Flamini made 246 appearances over two spells at Arsenal but is now tasked with helping to keep Palace in the top-flight.
"We [Palace] played a great game," Flamini said.
"We managed to be strong defensively and to find some opportunities and to score. Of course the confidence was high. On the other side, it is never an easy game to come and play at Palace. They conceded a goal and it was not easy to come back."
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