'We have to': Mikel Arteta challenges Arsenal players after Man Utd loss in response to Patrick Vieira claim | OneFootball

Gunners have seen their lead at the top of the Premier League table cut to four points after a disappointing weekend

A week on from having the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points, the Gunners fell to a 3-2 defeat at home to Manchester United to leave their advantage at only four points.

Arsenal were on top for the first half an hour of the match, taking the lead when Lisandro Martinez turned into his own net, but a terrible Martin Zubimendi pack pass error allowed Bryan Mbeumo to equalise.

The hosts did not respond well to that, losing momentum and composure, and while Mikel Merino bundled in with seven minutes remaining to get Arsenal level after Patrick Dorgu's stunner, Matheus Cunha curled in a late winner.

Speaking after the match, former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira said there were "still some questions about the mental strength of the team".

Asked for his response to those comments, Arteta said: "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.

"We were absolutely brilliant in Milan, and today we weren’t that good.

"I don't know if it was mental, because of how much they played, but because we were poor, especially technically in certain aspects of the game, against a team that when you make those mistakes, they can punish you big time. That was the difference."

There was a tense edge to the Arsenal fans throughout, groaning in response to heavy touches and loose passes.

Dejected: Arsenal players react during their home loss to Manchester United

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Some boos were heard at full-time too but Arteta refused to criticise frustrated supporters, insisting it is on the team to deliver more.

"We have to understand that we all want to win, and the crowd is trying to be behind the team to make the best decisions and to win the game, and we need to go through that," Arteta said.

"It doesn't matter. We have to do more, so maybe that's not enough. We have to do more, there's nothing else. We have to do our very best.

"When you do that, you can rest in peace. Today we really certainly tried to do our very best, but we weren't efficient enough against a team that is very well organised, and we got punished because of our own mistakes as well."