Fulham went down 2-3 at Craven Cottage as Palace claimed the points, extending a miserable opening sequence for the Spaniard that has also included losses to Chelsea (2-3) and Sunderland (1-0). The run leaves the former Real Madrid defender under early pressure in his first managerial job in England, though he has been unwilling to abandon his footballing principles despite the results.
"I believe in my ideas," Arbeloa said following the latest setback.
The head coach also acknowledged the defensive frailties that have undermined his side so far, with Fulham conceding three goals against Palace for the second time in three matches.
"Our defence is very open," Arbeloa admitted. Despite the concession, he gave no indication he intends to alter his approach fundamentally, instead expressing regret at how results have unfolded for those around the club.
"I would have liked things to have gone better for the club and the supporters," he said.
Arbeloa now faces the task of finding solutions quickly to shore up a Fulham side that has shown genuine attacking promise in matches but remains far too fragile defensively through the opening weeks of the season. The Spaniard's methods, honed during his career as a player under some of the game's most demanding coaches, place a heavy emphasis on structured possession and control, but implementing that approach appears to be taking longer than either he or Fulham's supporters would like.
With back-to-back trips to Liverpool and Manchester United on the horizon, the schedule offers little immediate respite for a Fulham side already searching for their first win of the campaign. Arbeloa's start contrasts sharply with the platform left by his predecessor Marco Silva, who departed for Benfica in the summer, and patience among supporters may begin to wear thin if the same defensive issues persist without a corresponding return of results in the coming weeks.
Fulham did end the summer transfer window with seven new arrivals, headlined by the signing of Gonzalo Garcia, as several established squad members including Sasa Lukic, Issa Diop and Raul Jimenez departed Craven Cottage.
Bedding in that volume of new personnel while simultaneously implementing a fresh tactical identity was always likely to take time, but three defeats from three league matches represents a sterner test of patience than Arbeloa or the club's supporters would have anticipated at the outset of his reign.