Defoe is rumoured to be the subject of a big bid by a rival Barclays Premier League club in the January transfer window.

But Adams left his star striker on the substitutes bench until two minutes from the end, despite Portsmouth slumping to their fourth league defeat in a row to a late header from former Arsenal captain William Gallas.

Adams, who insisted Portsmouth had received no bids for Defoe, said: "Jermain was really annoyed with me for leaving him out and he is still angry with me now - and I wouldn't want it any other way to be honest.

"It was tactical. He might have got a point. He could easily turn round to me and say 'Look, you got it wrong boss because you lost.' But it's not easy being a manager and you have to make difficult decisions.

"He's a fantastic player, scores great goals but at the moment we are struggling with balance. Away at Liverpool and away at Arsenal I chose to keep him on the bench. Those are my reasons and speculate all you want but I have had no offers for Jermain Defoe, not one."

Adams, who was returning to Arsenal for the first time as a fully-fledged manager, also insists he does not want to sell in the window which opens on Thursday.

He added: "I am determined to hold on to all of them but I want people who want to play for Portsmouth. We're in a scrap with 14 other clubs and if they don't want to play for Portsmouth then they're no good to me.

"It's not reading the riot act, it's fact. If your head has been turned, if you're not trying everything to win games for the club then I don't want you around.

"No-one's come to see me, no-one wants away. I'm really encouraged, not with the results, but with the way they are performing."

For Arsene Wenger it was more about the result and the contribution of former captain William Gallas.

Wenger insisted he does not want to sell any players in the transfer window and praised the controversial Gallas, who he stripped of the captaincy after the players' criticisms in his controversial autobiography, for what was a timely winner.

Wenger said: "He answered everybody by his performance on the pitch and that's what you do when you are a great player. He started as a striker and looks most likely to score at set-pieces. He has good timing to attack the ball."

The Arsenal manager also believes his injury-hit side have received more unfair flak than any Arsenal team he has managed.

He said: "The team are maturing and have shown great mental strength in the past few weeks.

"No team since I have been here have got as bad publicity and I don't think it is fair because they have got great character."

You could say the same about the Arsenal crowd, who gave Adams the most affectionate of receptions before singing the obligatory 'One-nil to the Arsenal.'

Adams acknowledged the chants but said: "It comes back to haunt you. I thought it was one-nil to the lucky Arsenal today."