Mikel Arteta has challenged his Arsenal squad to demonstrate greater mental fortitude on the pitch following a shocking 3-2 defeat at home to Manchester United. The loss, which marked their first home defeat of the campaign, has narrowed their lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points.

Arsenal started the game strongly, dominating the first half-hour and taking the lead when Martin Odegaard's touch led to an own goal by Lisandro Martinez. However, a costly error from Martin Zubimendi allowed Bryan Mbeumo to equalize, shifting the game's momentum. Arsenal struggled to regain their composure, and despite Mikel Merino's late equalizer, Matheus Cunha struck a late winner for Manchester United.

"First of all, congratulations to Man United for the victory," Arteta said in the post-match press conference. "I think we started the game really well, the first half hour we were very dominant, playing the areas that we wanted, scored a goal, had two fantastic chances to score another one". He acknowledged that giving up the first goal changed the game's energy, leading to a more open contest where Arsenal lost their earlier dominance. He also pointed out that technical mistakes were costly against a team like Manchester United, who are capable of punishing such errors.

Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira suggested that there were "still some questions about the mental strength of the team". Arteta responded to Vieira's claim by saying, "That's fine...I mean, we accept every opinion, where it comes and where it's coming from, and they will have the right reason to say it. At the end, we have to show the mental strength that we have on the pitch when it comes to a match day".

Arteta stressed the importance of reacting well to setbacks, highlighting that losing matches is part of the journey to winning. He pointed to their excellent performance in Milan as an example of their capabilities, contrasting it with their performance against Manchester United. "We were absolutely brilliant in Milan, and today we weren't that good," Arteta stated.

The atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium appeared to contribute to the team's struggles, with misplaced passes and poor touches met with groans from the crowd, increasing the tension. Arteta noted the importance of the crowd being behind the team to make the best decisions, understanding that everyone wants to win.

Arsenal's recent form has been inconsistent, with a three-match winless run jeopardizing their hold on the title race. After a chance to extend their lead, the Gunners now find themselves with a smaller margin for error. However, Arteta remains focused on the task, reminding his players to stay present in the moment and concentrate on improving daily.

Despite the defeat, Arteta expressed confidence in his team's ability to bounce back, emphasizing the need to learn from the experience and use it as motivation. He acknowledged the emotional impact of the loss, stating that it is "very touching" when the effort put in doesn't yield the desired result. However, he also asserted that such experiences are valuable for long-term improvement, and that they will make the team better.