Arsenal vs Manchester United: 'Congratulations Man United' — Mikel Arteta accepts defeat

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has congratulated Manchester United for their victory against his team, lauding Michael Carrick's side’s performance.

Manchester United have contributed to derailing Arsenal’s title race, beating them 3-2 at the Emirates to keep them only four points above Manchester City and Aston Villa in second and third place, respectively.

Speaking after the match, the Spanish international began by congratulating the Red Devils for their performance. However, he also praised his team for how they dominated sections of the game before conceding to an error and two excellent goals.

"First of all, you have to congratulate Manchester United for the victory. It happened in a really strange way,” he said, per the BBC.

"We were really dominant in the first 30 minutes, and we scored; then we gave them the goal, and that transformed the momentum and energy. After that, we dropped the standard with the ball, then they had two magic moments with the goals they scored, and in big games, you need these moments.

"We were carrying that negativity, but when we got it for 2-2, you feel 'game on'. But then one long ball, one pass and Cunha scores, so it's a very painful one. The players have given us so much joy and performances - they deserve to be reminded how good they are.

"We have to learn from it. Defeats are part of winning, and you have to take them and remind the players how good they are. When you draw or don't win and lose, that's when you have to show the togetherness and unity.

"To get where we want to be, defeats are part of that for us, as for any team. We have to do the small things better than we have done today, but sometimes with the goals, you have to give credit to the opposition."