West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has called on the club's fans to stick with the team.

Last weekend Pellegrini complained that lots of supporters left early during the 2-1 home defeat by Bournemouth.

However, he sought to clarify those comments ahead of Saturday's trip to Arsenal.

"It is not about how much I criticised the fans - it is how much the team needs the fans," said Pellegrini.

"I perfectly understand if you are losing 4-1 or 5-1 and you have got five minutes till the game finishes, maybe you leave early to your house. But losing 2-1?

"At this moment the players need everybody together, the fans, the team, the manager, the owners - everybody. Maybe the fans had a reason, but I just wanted to clarify how important the fans for the result of the games."

Off-field issues are once again plaguing the London Stadium with the club locked in disputes with landlords E20 over the colour of the pitch surround, big screen maintenance and a missing honours list.

But Pellegrini added: "What I don't want to have is an excuse because we have some problem with the colour of the track, we need to have the solution on the pitch, not off it.

"Maybe there are issues being talked about, maybe they can be sorted but I don't want to link those things."

Arsenal are also yet to register a point this season so it could be a nervous affair at the Emirates.

Pellegrini said: "Is it a good time to play them? I prefer to play against a big team when you are in your best moment.

"They will be nervous but also desperate to win their first game."

Pellegrini could be without captain Mark Noble, who has not been able to train this week due to a back problem.

With nine new signings to incorporate, Pellegrini needs to settle on his preferred line-up sooner rather than later.

But he insisted: "You never have a starting XI. It is difficult because you have to play so many games and you must change it.

"You must involve the whole squad and chose the best moment for each game. But after that game you will have another problem and can't play that team again."