Erik ten Hag critical of Man Utd after Arsenal defeat

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was critical of his players in the wake of their 3-2 defeat to Premier League leaders Arsenal, insisting that all three goals could have been avoided.

United, still the only team to beat the Gunners in the league so far this season, went ahead at the Emirates Stadium through Marcus Rashford. But the hosts hit back with goals from Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka, before Lisandro Martinez made it 2-2 on the hour mark.

Yet just as the all-action clash appeared to be heading for a draw, Nketiah again struck right at the end, flicking the ball just beyond the reach of David de Gea.

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The result leaves Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City, who beat Wolves earlier in the day, and 11 ahead of United – with a game in hand on all those immediately below them.

“All the goals we conceded today are mistakes - it can't happen," Ten Hag told Sky Sports.

“Even last week [against Man City], we were so hard to beat in such situations. Today we were not. All three goals, we could have avoided. There were not a lot of open chances. We made mistakes which we cannot make. This game was decided by small details but also the decision making.

“That is hard to accept and we have to learn from it. I want to win. It is not good enough. We want to be the number one, but not if we make mistakes. That is clear and what I told them.”

Following on from Michael Olise’s stoppage time free-kick for Crystal Palace, United are now two games without a win after nine in a row before that.

But attention now turns to the Carabao Cup and the opportunity to edge closer to a first trophy in six years when United head to Nottingham Forest in the semi-final first leg on Wednesday night.