Friday 14 April 2017 15:52, UK
Theo Walcott stating Crystal Palace "wanted it more" after Monday's defeat at Selhurst Park was "unacceptable", according to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
Wenger admitted it had been a difficult week following Arsenal's 3-0 capitulation at Palace and revealed his team were now under pressure to deliver at Middlesbrough on Monday Night Football.
The defeat was their seventh in 12 games and left the Gunners sixth in the Premier League and seven points adrift of the top four.
Walcott captained Arsenal on the night and after the game told Sky Sports: "We are all disappointed in the changing room, like the fans are. We let them down. We can only apologise. They wanted it more. You could sense that from the kick-off."
Walcott's comments did not go down well among supporters on social media and on Friday morning, Wenger said: "It is not acceptable. But the players were conscious of that when we were in the decisive duels.
"That's what I said straight after the game. We were beaten, and you have to face reality and respond."
The recent run of poor form has coincided with continued speculation over Wenger's future, with the 67-year-old yet to announce whether he will stay beyond the end of the season when his contract expires.
Calls for his departure from sections of supporters returned during and after the loss at Palace but when asked on whether there had been any developments on his future, the Frenchman replied: "Nothing.
"I believe my relationship (with Stan Kroenke, Arsenal owner) has always been the same, it has not changed.
"I don't know. What happens above in the board is not down to me. I focus on what is important for me is the performance of the team and what the fans are interested in is the performance of the team."
Wenger also said he could give no assurances that his team would bounce back at struggling Middlesbrough on Easter Monday - conceding they may finish the season out of the top four.
Asked if his players would give a positive response, he added: "You can never guarantee that. In football, you have to accept that the risk is part of it and that you can win, lose or draw.
"What you want - the real response - is to play with total commitment and with total belief in what we do.
"We might get there (into the top four), we might not get there, but the only thing to get there is to believe we can do it and that's what we have to focus on.
"It's not the fear to fail, it's the desire to make it and that's the only chance we have to make it."
