MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 11:56:24| >> :120:8138:8138:

Arsene Wenger: 'Hector Bellerin criticism is unfair'

Wenger: 'Bellerin criticism is unfair'
© SilverHub
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claims that the criticism aimed at full-back Hector Bellerin during the 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace was unwarranted.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that the criticism aimed at Hector Bellerin during Monday night's 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace was unfair.

The 22-year-old full-back has rarely been called into question since breaking into the first team, but a number of fans berated his display during the loss at Selhurst Park as Arsenal fell to another damaging defeat.

Wenger acknowledged that the Spaniard has not been at his best since returning from an ankle injury, but urged the supporters to get behind the team rather than turning on them.

"He has not come back to his level since he has been injured. I think (he has been feeling the ankle) for a while. Then you get bad habits and you forget that your job first is to defend and win challenges because you protect yourself a little bit," he told reporters.

"Then you realise you have to come back and I think now he is trying to focus on again what is important, to defend well and after he can give us that extra bit that is important as well. I agree that for a while he was not the Hector Bellerin we had seen at the start of the season."

When asked whether the criticism at Palace was unfair, Wenger added: "I think, yes. He is a guy who is genuinely Arsenal and wants to do well. He is ready to play with pain and I think it is, yes.

"The fans want to be behind the team and the way we respond on the football pitch will decide the attitude of the fans. The fans love the club. It's a good period to be united and not divided. Historically Arsenal has been about that. One of our values is to be together. There's no better period of the season than to show it now."

Arsenal travel to Middlesbrough on Monday night having lost seven of their last 12 matches across all competitions, including five of their last six away from home.

ID:296176: cacheID:296176:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2805:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin in action during his side's Premier League clash with Hull City at the Emirates Stadium on September 17, 2016
Read Next:
Wenger urges Bellerin to miss U21 Euros
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!