The Gunners - who opened last season with a 21-match unbeaten run in all competitions - were well below par at Craven Cottage and Wenger was clearly irked by the lacklustre display.

However, while the preachers of doom may already be forecasting a bleak outlook for the future of his young side over the next nine months, Wenger fully expects a response when Steve McClaren's Dutch outfit come to the Emirates Stadium looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg.

"We were not good on Saturday and we lost the game, it is as simple as that," said Wenger, who expects key midfielder Cesc Fabregas to return from a hamstring injury tomorrow.

"You cannot want the supporters not to take it to heart because we do. We are all very disappointed with our performance.

"We completely understand the critics because we were not good - but we promise we will come back and play well tomorrow, to put a good performance in."

Former Gunners defender Lee Dixon hit out at the efforts and leadership qualities of captain William Gallas, who allowed Norwegian centre-back Brede Hangeland to steal in and strike what proved to be the winning goal from a first-half corner.

However, Wenger refused to put the blame completely on his skipper.

"We did not play well as a team, everybody knows that and William is no more guilty than anybody else," said the Arsenal manager.

"It would be unfair to single anybody out.

"We lost as a team and we want to respond as a team.

"We have talked about everything needed to be successful in a team, and commitment is needed for any success, no matter how much quality you have."

A defiant Wenger continued: "We live in world now where you have to accept the critics and a definite conclusion from everybody.

"But I know my squad is good, my team is good, our spirit is good.

"We are intelligent enough to know we did not play well on Saturday, but we know as well we have the needed quality to respond."

Wenger insists there is "no news" on the signing of a creative midfielder after being linked with Gareth Barry, Xabi Alonso and Udinese's £8million-rated Switzerland international Gokhan Inler.

In fact, the Arsenal manager maintains his squad - which has several players missing through injury - is already strong enough to mount another sustained attack on both the Barclays Premier League title and in Europe.

He said: "I believe we have a strong squad and I believe in the players I have instead of always looking at who might be coming in.

"It is not one player who makes a difference.

"It is up to us as team to show personality, strength and belief within the squad. That will make the difference.

"We just look at the right player and if we can get him, we get him. If we don't, we don't.

"If nothing is done, it will not limit our ambitions because of it."

Wenger maintains he does not get hung up on which other superstars Arsenal's rivals may or may not be targeting - with Chelsea reportedly set to land Brazilian Robinho in a £28million deal from Real Madrid.

He said: "The names do not impress me. What is impressive for me is the attitude, the quality.

"There is only one thing important and that is what you do on the pitch.

"I agree that what we did on the pitch on Saturday was not good enough, but all the rest to compare with names is not very interesting and not very useful."

Arsenal eventually came through a stern examination by Twente in the first leg a fortnight ago in Arnhem, where late goals from Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor put them in the driving seat towards a potential £20million jackpot in the Champions League proper.

However, Wenger maintains there is still work to be done.

"We have done the job well at Twente, but the job is not over," he said.

"We have to respect Twente and come into the game with a desire to win.

"It is not always easy to go into a match when you lead 2-0, but I want us to be positive and to win it."