Monday 17 April 2017 23:16, UK
Arsene Wenger has described the Arsenal fans' criticism of Spanish defender Hector Bellerin as unfair.
Bellerin was booed by some members of the away support following the Gunners' 3-0 loss at Crystal Palace last week, their fourth away defeat on the bounce.
Speaking ahead of Monday Night Football against Middlesbrough, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm, Wenger admitted the right-back's form has declined recently but says the supporters' negative reaction at Selhurst Park was uncalled for.
"I think, yes," said Wenger when asked about the criticism. "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."
Despite going through a difficult run of form, Bellerin is expected to retain his place in the Arsenal team for Monday's trip to the Riverside, and the 22-year-old is determined to prove his critics wrong.
"You need to learn to deal with people saying bad things about you and you need to learn to deal with stuff that's not happened before," he told Arsenal.com.
"It will make me stronger, that's how I see it. Some people can be destroyed or collapse but I think I and everyone at the club needs to look at it positively.
"We just need to do our job on the pitch. We know that fans are angry, we know that people want results because we're Arsenal and that's what's expected from us."
