Mikel Arteta has expressed encouragement following a meeting with his players in the wake of Arsenal's recent 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in a Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The loss to United compounded a troubling run of form for the Gunners, who have now failed to win in their last three league matches. Despite this setback, Arsenal remains atop the Premier League standings, holding a four-point lead.

Arteta revealed that he called the players for a meeting to "bring down the temperature" and also implored Arsenal's anxious fanbase to "jump on the fun boat". The manager said that the reaction since the defeat to Manchester United had been excellent. According to Arteta, the meeting on Monday provided an opportunity to "pause, to reflect and ask two questions". These questions were: "How do we feel? And how do I feel myself?" and "How do we want to live the next four months?".

Arteta described the outcome of the meeting as "so encouraging and beautiful". He stated that the team had "earned the right to be in a great position in four competitions, and in the next four months we're going to live and play with enjoyment, with a lot of courage and with the conviction that we're going to win it". He hopes that everyone related to the club, especially the supporters, will embrace this mindset.

Arteta insisted that the meeting was always planned, as these meetings are held every three to four weeks. He further added, "It's really important to understand the reality versus the perspective, and sometimes you have to look with the microscope and then you have to put the telescope in. You have to be able to see everything with clarity".

Arsenal faces Kairat at home on Wednesday in the Champions League, aiming to maintain their perfect record in Europe. They are also still in contention for the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup. Despite the recent setback, Arteta seeks to keep the team focused and motivated as they compete on multiple fronts.

Following the loss to Manchester United, Arteta said, "If you want to win, you have to go through those moments". He acknowledged the unrealistic expectation of winning every game, emphasizing that with 31 games still to play, the margins are small, and they were made even smaller by certain actions. Arteta stressed the importance of reacting to the defeat and assessing the team's character. He said that this is the moment to stay with the players and protect them. He further added that the team was well-prepared for the game and started strongly, but the momentum shifted in the second half. He also admitted to giveaways that led to dangerous counters and the team's failure to establish a consistent rhythm in creating momentum and attacks.