Arsenal's Premier League title hopes suffered a significant blow after a thrilling 3-2 defeat at home to Manchester United. The loss, marked by what manager Mikel Arteta described as costly errors, has reignited the title race, reducing Arsenal's lead to just four points over Manchester City and Aston Villa.
The Gunners, who had been enjoying a strong run, saw their first home defeat of the season inflicted by a United side revitalized under interim boss Michael Carrick. Despite taking an early lead through a Lisandro Martinez own goal in the 29th minute, Arsenal couldn't maintain their advantage. A woeful back pass from Martin Zubimendi gifted Bryan Mbeumo an equalizer in the 37th minute, shifting the momentum.
United continued their resurgence after the break, with Patrick Dorgu's stunning strike putting them ahead in the 50th minute. Arsenal fought back, and substitute Mikel Merino appeared to have salvaged a point with a goal in the 84th minute. However, Matheus Cunha's sensational late winner, just three minutes from full time, sealed the victory for the visitors.
Arteta acknowledged the impact of individual errors on the result. "We got punished because of our own mistakes as well,” he said. He also congratulated Manchester United for their victory, admitting, "sometimes you have to give credit to the opponent". Arteta reflected on the game as "a game of moments". He noted Arsenal's dominance in the first 30 minutes but lamented the "unusual goal away" that gave United hope and shifted the game's energy.
The defeat marks Arsenal's first loss in 13 games across all competitions since December and their first at home in 18 matches. This setback follows a recent three-match winless run in the league, including goalless draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, raising concerns among fans and pundits alike. Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira questioned the team's "mental strength" following the loss. Arteta responded by stating, "we have to show the mental strength that we have on the pitch when it comes to a match day".
The result has opened up the title race, with Manchester City and Aston Villa closing the gap on Arsenal. Despite the disappointment, Arteta urged his players to stay focused and maintain the standards they have set throughout the season. He emphasized the need to "do more" and "do our very best" in response to the fans' expectations. Arsenal still control their destiny, but face a test of nerve in the coming weeks.
