While criticism of Arsene Wenger continued unabated, the Arsenal manager insisted there are absolutely no rifts between him and assistant manager Steve Bould.
After the Gunners went down humiliatingly to Bradford in the Capital One Cup, widespread reports suggested Bould was unhappy with the club after being marginalized by Wenger.
While Arsenal began the season looking like a fresh new team, with a good defensive backbone, they have fallen alarmingly since, with Bould's restriction in coaching believed to be one of the main reasons.
However, Wenger, in his Reading pre-match press conference, was adamant his coaching staff were united. "We are a united staff team," he said. "We cannot control lies which are written.
"What is important for us now is the future, how we do in the Premier League, the Champions League and FA Cup, not whether we are out of the Capital One Cup or not.
"We all look to the future.
"I believe we have a strong squad and it is up to them to show I am right.
"I believe it's a good opportunity to show that we are strong inside the club and let people talk.
"We are criticised when our results are not good, we have to take that on the chin. That we have to face a lot of lies is less acceptable."
The Arsenal manger said it was now time to look to the future and the next game against Reading on Monday, rather than dwelling on the loss to Bradford, a club that lie three tiers below Arsenal.
"We are top professional people," Wenger added. "What is important is what happens tomorrow, not what happened yesterday.
"We are sorry for that (Bradford loss), but what is important is the next game. The squad should just focus on the next game."
Wenger, clearly far from the man who used to joke around during his press conferences, showed his displeasure when a reporter asked him whether the embarrassing loss to Bradford would affect Theo Walcott in deciding his future.
Walcott is yet to agree on a new contract, with his current on set to expire at the end of the season.
Recent reports suggest Walcott could indeed leave the Emirates, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool all keen on the 23-year-old forward.
"I don't understand your way of thinking," Wenger said. "I cannot see that.
"How should the Capital One Cup impact on the desire of the player to be part of the long-term future of the club?
"I believe (Walcott has a long-term future at the club), yes."
