Mikel Arteta pointed to a series of uncharacteristic individual errors as the decisive factor in Arsenal's 3-2 defeat to Manchester United, a result that has stalled their Premier League title tilt and reduced their lead at the summit to just four points. The Gunners manager expressed frustration after his side squandered an early advantage in a thrilling encounter at the Emirates Stadium.
Zubimendi Mistake Triggers Dramatic Turnaround
Arsenal had taken a 1-0 lead and appeared in control during the opening half-hour, but the game was transformed by a costly error from midfielder Martín Zubimendi. His mis-hit back-pass presented Bryan Mbeumo with a simple equaliser, shifting the momentum decisively in United's favour.
Arteta highlighted this moment as pivotal, stating, "The first half an hour we're very dominant, playing the areas that we wanted, scored a goal, had two fantastic chances to score another one. And after that, we gave them the goal." He emphasised that this initial mistake cascaded into further issues, noting, "The first error leads to the second one. There were three or four, which is very unusual today – but they are part of football and today we got punished."
United Capitalise with Stunning Strikes
Manchester United capitalised fully on Arsenal's lapses, scoring two outstanding goals from distance in the second half to secure a memorable victory. Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha both found the net with spectacular efforts, leaving the home side stunned and unable to recover despite a late rally.
Arteta reflected on the momentum shifts, saying, "With the changes, we managed to shift the energy, scored the second goal, and you could feel that everything changed and the game was there to go and win it. In the next action, Noni [Madueke] is one v one in the six-yard box. We don't get anything out of that. It goes to a goal-kick … one pass, win the duel, and Cunha puts it in the perfect angle to lose all the momentum, all the good energy that we were building up."
Arteta Resists Complaints Over Controversial Incidents
The Arsenal manager resisted the temptation to criticise match officials, despite two potential handball incidents that could have altered the outcome. Replays were inconclusive on whether the ball brushed Dorgu's hand before his goal, while a shot that struck Harry Maguire's hand was not penalised, presumably as it was deemed to be breaking his fall.
Arteta also refused to be critical of the home fans who offered a smattering of boos at half-time, acknowledging, "We have to do more, and when we do that we can rest in peace." He stressed the need for mental resilience, adding, "In the end, we have to show the mental strength we have on matchdays."
Carrick Praises United's Game Intelligence
Interim Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, who has overseen impressive wins against the top two in his first two matches in charge, praised his players' tactical awareness. He said, "We understood the flow of the game. At times we were going to be a little bit up against it and digging in. You've got to take a bit of control and calm things down a bit. And we got two fantastic goals."
This defeat leaves Arsenal facing increased pressure in the title race, with their recent goalless draws potentially contributing to a sense of anxiety that Arteta suggested may have influenced the error-strewn performance. The Gunners must now regroup quickly to maintain their slender advantage at the top of the Premier League table.
