Arsenal deserve more credit, says Hector Bellerin as he hits back at critics

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James Olley24 October 2017

Hector Bellerin claimed there has been an over-reaction to Arsenal’s start to the season.

The Gunners head into Tuesday's Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Norwich fresh from climbing up to fifth in the Premier League table following their 5-2 thrashing of Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger’s side were heavily criticised after losing at Watford the previous weekend, with fans chanting “You don’t know what you’re doing” towards the manager. In a post-match interview, Watford striker Troy Deeney then accused the Gunners of lacking “cojones” and questioning their hunger for the fight.

The result at Vicarage Road was Arsenal’s first defeat since a 4-0 reverse at Liverpool in August, after which Gary Neville branded several Gunners players “disgraceful” and fellow Sky pundit Jamie Carragher labelled them “cowards”.

However, Arsenal are now level on points with champions Chelsea, top of their Europa League group with a 100 per cent record from three matches and could reach the League Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Asked by Standard Sport if there had been an over-reaction to recent performances, right-back Bellerin said: “I think it always is with Arsenal. It doesn’t matter how we do. If we win it is always the other team’s fault and when we lose it is always our fault.

In Pictures | Everton vs Arsenal | 22/10/2017

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“We have just got to deal with it as we have been doing, play our game and show that we have got the potential, that we can win games like this one. I think everyone has seen that.”

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