Mikel Arteta reacts after brutal Patrick Vieira criticism following Arsenal defeat to Man Utd
Arsenal’s Premier League advantage has been cut to just four points following a dramatic 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United on Sunday evening.
The Gunners took the lead through Lisandro Martinez’s own goal in the 29th minute, but their control quickly evaporated after Martin Zubimendi’s costly error allowed Bryan Mbeumo to equalise eight minutes later.
Patrick Dorgu’s spectacular volley early in the second half put the visitors ahead before Mikel Merino scrambled home an 84th-minute leveller.
However, substitute Matheus Cunha curled in a stunning winner just three minutes later, securing United’s first league victory at the Emirates since 2017 and extending Arsenal’s winless run to three matches.
Mikel Arteta’s side suffered a late defeat to Manchester United
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REUTERS
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira raised doubts about the squad’s psychological resilience following the defeat, telling Sky Sports that “there are still some questions about the mental strength of the team” as they pursue their first league title since 2004.
Arteta accepted the criticism from the club legend without complaint.
“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,” the Spaniard said.
“At the end, we have to show the mental strength that we have on the pitch when it comes to a match day.”
Matheus Cunha scored the winner for United against Arsenal in the 87th minute
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The Arsenal manager drew a stark comparison between Sunday’s display and their impressive 3-1 triumph over Inter Milan in the Champions League just days earlier.
“We were absolutely brilliant in Milan, and today we weren’t that good,” Arteta admitted.
He suggested fatigue from the midweek trip to Italy may have played a role, but ultimately pointed to technical deficiencies as the decisive factor.
“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.”
Sections of the Emirates crowd booed the players at full-time, marking a rare moment of discontent despite this being Arsenal’s first home defeat since May 2025.
“There’s still some questions on the mentality of the team..there was a lack of creativity.”
Patrick Vieira felt like he was watching a different Arsenal against Man Utd. pic.twitter.com/6GyEHiKZiS
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
Arteta refused to criticise the supporters, instead placing the onus firmly on his squad.
“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,” he said.
The Spaniard expressed unwavering belief in his players’ capacity to bounce back from the setback.
Michael Carrick has won two games out of two since taking interim charge
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“I know those players in the dressing room and how much we want it, that we’re going to react immediately.”
