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| Arteta Sees ‘Beautiful’ Response from Arsenal After Late Man United Heartbreak. |
Losing at the last minute hurts — but Arsenal’s response? That’s what really caught Mikel Arteta’s eye.
After a dramatic 3–2 defeat to Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday, the Arsenal boss says his players reacted in a way that made him proud, calling it a “beautiful” moment for the squad.
The Gunners looked set to take a point before Matheus Cunha produced a stunning finish in the 87th minute, handing United a late win and ending Arsenal’s hopes of bouncing back in the Premier League.
That result means Arsenal are now winless in their last three league matches, following goalless draws against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool. Their lead at the top of the table has shrunk to just four points.
Still, it’s not all bad news in north London.
“We Paused, Reflected, and Moved Forward”
While league form has dipped, Arsenal have been flawless in the Champions League. They currently sit top of the standings and need just one point against Kairat Almaty on Wednesday to finish first in the league phase.
Speaking ahead of that match, Arteta explained how his squad dealt with the setback against United.
“The reaction has been excellent,” he said. “We took a moment to calm things down, pause, reflect, and ask ourselves some important questions.”
Those questions, according to Arteta, weren’t tactical — they were personal.
“How do we feel? How do we want to live the next four months?” he added.
The answers, he said, were clear and encouraging.
“We’ve earned the right to be in a great position across four competitions. So now we want to play with joy, courage, and the conviction that we can win.”
Arteta also sent a message to the fans.
“I hope everyone connected to this club jumps on this boat. This is how we’re going to live the next four months.”
Injury Updates and Backing His Leaders
Arteta confirmed that defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba will miss the Kairat game due to minor fitness issues.
He also came to the defense of Bukayo Saka, who hasn’t scored in 13 matches, brushing off concerns over the winger’s form.
“Just look at what he’s done over the last 200 games,” Arteta said. “It’s that simple.”
The Arsenal manager was equally firm in his support of captain Martin Ødegaard, insisting there’s no better player to wear the armband.
“Martin is fantastic in the dressing room,” he said. “He’s respected, sets standards, and leads by example. The armband couldn’t be on a better person.”
Arsenal Chasing Champions League History
Arsenal are now chasing their eighth straight Champions League win. Only one English club has ever gone further — Manchester City, who won 10 in a row between May 2023 and March 2024.
Even more impressive, Arsenal have won all seven of their European matches this season by a margin of two goals or more.
No team in Champions League history has ever won eight consecutive matches by at least two goals — a record Arsenal now have firmly in their sights.
One league stumble, one big response — and a chance to make history. Arsenal’s season is very much alive.
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