Manchester United Coach Erik ten Hag said his team made “unacceptable” errors and showed they still had “a way to go” to be considered top of the table in their 3-2 loss last week. weapon.
Eddie Nketiah’s 90th-minute goal sealed victory for the Premier League leaders and sent United down to fourth place, 11 points behind Mikel Arteta’s side.
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Nketiah also scored the opening goal for Arsenal, with Bukayo Saka scored the other goal for the home side, but United manager Ten Hag said mistakes contributed to all three goals his team conceded.
“We made mistakes with all three goals,” said Ten Hag. “Normally we are better in situations like that. That can’t happen. Today we saw, we still have a way to go to the top level.
“The first two goals both started from a corner and we made a lot of mistakes from corner to goal. That couldn’t have happened. It was a lesson we had to learn.
“We’re going to face the players because this can’t happen. Good teams don’t make mistakes like that. We had moments in the break, but we had to defend much better in the situation. that situation.”
“We started the game very well, scored, took the lead and then made too many mistakes that were really unacceptable. We have to learn our lesson and move on.”
Nketiah’s goal marked the second game in a row that United conceded a late goal, with Michael Olise denied United’s win with a last-minute free-kick Because Crystal Palace in the middle of the week.
And Ten Hag admits that late goals and losses will be a reality test for his players.
“The two confrontations were really close,” he said. “It’s hard to accept when you lose at the end of the game.
“We have to accept that today. We are not happy with this performance because we could have done better. You guys started well and you have to take advantage of the situation. It cannot happen. conceding like us.
“This is a game. Last week we did very well. We kept them better away from our box and when they were in our box we defended better.”
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Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arteta described it as a “beautiful moment” after seeing his side win the late game to restore a five-point lead over the second-placed team. . City of Manchester.
“There is nothing better, a beautiful moment,” he said. “We attacked and pressed, the goal didn’t come. But it was really exciting, full of passion, I lived with it, when we scored.
“We were focused and I liked this personality that the players showed. We found the loophole to win the game.
“They surprised me with how they reacted. We encourage them to play free football and have energy in the team and good things will happen.
“Doing it again and again against the big teams, the way we play today, gives me a lot of positives for the future. The league is very tight right now, there’s very little gap. Wins. , lose or draw, you have to be aware of that.
“If we can take advantage of the energy, it will be positive.”
