Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that his side "have to learn lessons" from Sunday's 3-2 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League.
Marcus Rashford made the breakthrough at the Emirates Stadium in the 17th minute, before Arsenal turned the game around to lead 2-1, with Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka on the scoresheet.
Lisandro Martinez made it 2-2 in the 59th minute, and it did appear that the two rivals would be sharing the spoils in the contest in North London.
However, Nketiah scored a stoppage-time winner for Arsenal, with the result leaving Man United in fourth spot in the Premier League table, now 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Ten Hag has said that all three of Arsenal's goals were avoidable, and the Dutchman has demanded improvement from the Red Devils moving forward.
© Reuters
"You have to defend better. You make mistakes and then it is like a pack of cards. In this situation, it is something we have to avoid, the same as the first two goals when you start the game and you come up," Ten Hag told reporters after the match.
"It was too easy to give the goal at 1-1 away. When you are in the game and at 1-0 you have to realise that more spaces will come. We have to learn these lessons if we want to come here and beat these big teams.
"I think [the] two games head-to-head [versus Arsenal and Crystal Palace], they were really close. It is hard to accept that in the final stages of the game you lose and this can't happen.
"We have to face that, we have to learn lessons, and that we are going to make mistakes as I think all three goals were avoidable. Normally we are better in those situations.
© Reuters
"They are very good on the ball, but we are good defensive team as well. I think there was a lot of open chances and I think the first two goals, starting with the corner, we make mistakes that we cannot make.
"I said that this game would be decided by details and it was, small details. The final minutes were the decision-making within the game and that is hard to accept. That is hard to accept but we have to learn from it today."
"It can be [a reality check]. Today we have to accept [it]. Today we are unsatisfied, as in this defence performance we know we can do better. Going 1-0 up, the game is starting very well and we have to take the benefit of that situation. It can't happen that we concede a goal like we did."
Man United will be bidding to return to winning ways when they travel to Nottingham Forest for the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.
Matt Law
