Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has attributed his side’s 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United to lapses in concentration and what he described as “two magic moments” from the visitors.
The loss brought Arsenal’s impressive unbeaten run at the Emirates Stadium to an end, as United snatched a late victory through Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian forward struck the decisive goal after Mikel Merino had appeared to rescue a point for the Gunners with an equaliser.
Arsenal had started the match brightly and took an early lead, benefiting from a Lisandro Martinez own goal. However, Manchester United responded strongly, with Patrick Dorgu and Bryan Mbeumo finding the net to turn the game in their favour before the hosts fought their way back into the contest.
Speaking after the match, Arteta felt his team were in control during the opening stages but admitted that conceding cheaply shifted the momentum.
“We were really dominant in the first 30 minutes and we scored,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “Then we gave them a goal, and that completely changed the momentum and the energy in the game.”
The Spanish coach acknowledged that his side’s level dropped after that moment, allowing United to capitalise.
“After that, we dropped our standards with the ball,” he said. “They had two magic moments with the goals they scored, and in big games you need those moments to win.”
Arteta also reflected on the psychological impact of falling behind, even after Arsenal managed to draw level late on.
“We were carrying that negativity for a while, but when we made it 2-2 you could feel it was game on,” he added. “Then one long ball, one pass, and Cunha scores. It’s a very painful one.”
Despite the defeat, Arsenal remain at the top of the Premier League table, although Arteta admitted the manner of the loss was difficult to accept given his side’s overall performance.
Manchester United’s victory was sealed by Cunha’s late strike, a moment that underlined the fine margins at the highest level and ultimately denied Arsenal a point in a match they had led and fought hard to recover.
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