Arteta: Torres treated unfairly

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has defended Chelsea striker Fernando Torres, saying the Spain forward has been treated unfairly.



Chelsea visit Emirates Stadium sat atop the English Premier League table, with Torres netting two goals in the league so far.

The 50 million-pound man has come under-fire for some bad displays, but his friend and compatriot says the striker is under huge pressure to try and live up to that price tag.

“I don’t like the way he has been treated because I have known him since we were 16, 17 and I really appreciate him,” Arteta told Arsenal’s website.

“He is a friend of mine. Obviously, football is like that – it doesn’t matter what you have done in the past, it is only what you have done in the last few weeks.

“He has been criticised. Mentally he is a really strong guy even if someone doubts him. When you play as a striker and they pay 50 million pounds for you, you are under huge pressure.

“And obviously when the ball isn’t going in the net, it is even more difficult because people always look at that.

“For a striker, sometimes it is not fair. For a midfielder or a defender it is a bit easier to adapt. For a striker it is tough.”