Tuesday 9 December 2014 18:50, UK
Arsene Wenger has urged Arsenal’s critics to wait until the end of the season before passing judgement on them.
Arsenal were behind after just 19 seconds at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday and found themselves three goals down before eventually battling back in a 3-2 defeat to Stoke.
Wenger was later jeered and received abuse as he and his players boarded the train back to London but he has called for patience as his side prepares to face Galatasaray away in the Champions League on Tuesday.
"The response after a defeat is always very important,” he said.
“What we want is to come back quickly to a strong defensive performance, to what we had before the game (on Saturday).
"We showed a lack of experience defensively (at Stoke), but we could have scored four or five goals in this game and the team response during this game was quite strong.
"For the rest, you expect that everyone is disappointed after that result, but the Premier League is difficult.
"We want to be judged at the end of the season, not after every single game where it is normal that emotion is always very high.
“So let us get our stability back defensively and see at the end of the season where we are."
Wenger insists the constant criticism from some Arsenal fans is not wearing him down as his much-changed side go into the game in Istanbul knowing a victory for them coupled with defeat for Borussia Dortmund against Anderlecht will see them top Group D.
"We have to cope with that (criticism), we are professional footballers. I am a competitive person,” added Wenger.
“What is important is the next game and responding in a strong way, to play to win the game.
"It is part of our job here, you cannot always look for excuses. We are down. Everyone feels it. When you have a disappointment you respond in a strong way, that is what competition is about.
"You cannot say there is a guarantee to anybody you will never lose a game. Many teams will lose at Stoke, you have to be realistic as well."
Watch Galatasaray v Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 5HD at 7pm.
