For all their topsy-turvy form, Thomas Vermaelen says the team spirit at Arsenal has never wavered.

He refused to single out goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski for blame even though the Polish international was at fault for both goals in the Porto defeat.

Vermaelen said: "He is a good ­goalkeeper with a lot of qualities. He has shown it before and I think he was a little unlucky in the first half in Porto.

"I thought the first goal was a cross that turned into a shot.

"But it was not only him. You lose with 11 or you win with 11. That is how it is with us.

"In Porto we did not ­perform as a team. Now we have made it difficult for ourselves because we did not play well and we gave stupid goals away."