Real Madrid overcome Bernabeu boos to record Arbeloa's first win
Arbeloa's debut after replacing Xabi Alonso ended in a humiliating Copa del Rey defeat in midweek at second-tier Albacete, but second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Raul Asencio secured three vital points at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to one point before the in-form Spanish champions visit Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Star players Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham came in for ire from the home fans after a disastrous week. Mbappe also started but was spared the jeers.
The French forward had been expected to return for the Champions League game against Monaco next week as he manages his recovery from a knee sprain.
"Today was a very important day, playing in front of our fans, we wanted to turn around the situation," Asencio told Real Madrid TV.
"What happened at Albacete should not have happened, we felt guilty and we wanted to make things better.
"The team gave a good account of themselves, above all in the second half."
It was Arbeloa's 43rd birthday and he was eventually able to celebrate with a victory, although his team lacked energy and spark in the first half.
That was not the case in the stands as a significant part of the crowd harangued their own team, showing they were upset at the club's situation.
In a wild week, Los Blancos lost the Spanish Super Cup final to rivals Barcelona in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, parted ways with Alonso on Monday and then crashed out of the cup on Wednesday.
Some fans also chanted for president Florentino Perez to resign in a sour atmosphere in the Spanish capital.
Mbappe, who appeared in pain in the warm up after a collision with team-mate Dean Huijsen, had the best chance of a flat first half against the team in 19th in La Liga.
Reaching a long ball the French superstar met it with a volley that flew wide of the post.
A step forward
Home fans jeered their side in at the break and Madrid emerged for the second half with more impetus, with Arbeloa bringing on Franco Mastantuono and Arda Guler.
Mbappe drew a foul in the area from Adrian de la Fuente to earn a penalty, which he dispatched for his 19th league goal of the campaign.
Mbappe has scored 50 goals in 53 La Liga games, taking only a little longer than Real Madrid's all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo to reach the milestone.
The Portuguese managed it in 51 appearances.
Asencio doubled Madrid's advantage with a header into the top corner from Guler's corner as the hosts took control.
Bellingham came close to adding a third but Mathew Ryan parried his header from Fede Valverde's cross and then saved Vinicius's effort after a darting run from the Brazilian.
Ryan thwarted Bellingham again as tensions calmed by the end, with the crowd temporarily sated by the victory. Unless Madrid can build on it, the jeers and whistles will return.