Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has described the club's critics as "emotional" following last weekend's defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Gunners' Premier League title hopes took a hit when they suffered a 3-2 loss against Louis van Gaal's side on Sunday.

Wenger and his men are now five points adrift of leaders Leicester City, who along with second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, were among the winning teams at the weekend.

In response to the criticism of Arsenal's performance, Wenger told reporters: "I'm never surprised by the criticism that comes, that's part of the media today. The opinions are always a bit excessive and emotional, but we have to deal with that, and I don't complain about that.

"What we want to do is to transform the negatives around us into positives and create even more solidarity. Let's not go overboard, we do not play to avoid being relegated, we play to fight for the Premiership and that's why we have to put the criticism into the right place."

Arsenal will take on Swansea City at the Emirates on Wednesday.