Arsene Wenger has responded to criticism of Arsenal's leaky defence by giving his backing to Per Mertesacker and Calum Chambers.
Mertesacker has been under fire since Sunday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Liverpool for ducking as Martin Skrtel nodded home the equaliser deep into injury time at Anfield.
Jamie Redknapp and Ian Wright are among those to have condemned Mertesacker, but Wenger has absolved the former Germany centre-back of blame for the goal and insists his form does not justify the scrutiny he has been under.
"I don't know [why he ducked]. Maybe because he sees he hasn't got the ball and somebody jumps over him and it's a reflex. But I don't think he could have got the ball," Wenger said.
"I believe he's on the way up. He had a difficult start to the season but he's been much sharper. Sometimes people are after you just that moment where you are not at your worst.
"He has to get over [being criticised]. Many people had a go at him for the corner but I looked at it and he had no chance to get that ball in the zone where he was."
Wenger admits 19-year-old Chambers, signed during the summer as a right-back who can cover centre-back, has been overplayed due to the injury crisis that has thinned Arsenal's ranks.
"For a 19-year-old, he has played too many games. They all hit the wall after 15 to 17 games. You have to give them a breather, let them refresh and get them back again.
"To have that responsibility in every single game is a lot for a player of that age."
Wenger expects Arsenal's defence to stabilise soon with Mathieu Debuchy continuing to find his feet after a three-month absence with an ankle injury and Laurent Koscielny due back imminently from a calf complaint.
"When Koscielny comes back and Debuchy being back, we will be more stable. Even in midfield we need to get our players back from injury and to defend better there as well," Wenger said.
"We had no stability at the back and when you look at the number of players who played centre-back this season, it's not easy."