Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said his team’s mentality must change if they are to become a trophy-winning team, lamenting defensive errors in his team’s 3-2 loss to Arsenal on Sunday.
Eddie Nketiah scored in the final minutes at the Emirates to give the Premier League leaders a dramatic victory, restoring their five-point lead over Manchester City.
Marcus Rashford gave the visitors a first-half lead in London, but Nketiah quickly equalized.
In the second half, England forward Bukayo Saka put the hosts ahead before Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez opened his United account with a looping header.
However, United was unable to withstand Arsenal’s relentless pressure and was defeated for the first time in any competition since early November.
Ten Hag, who was missing influential midfielder Casemiro due to suspension, said there were too many mistakes to mention.
“The goals we conceded were like a pack of cards,” the Dutchman said, noting that the first two came from corners.
On Wednesday, the Red Devils also conceded late in a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, and Ten Hag was frustrated by his team’s inability to hold out in the final stages once more.
With time running out, Nketiah was left unmarked to flick home Martin Odegaard’s back post shot.
“At this moment I’m annoyed and I also told the players ‘if you want to win trophies, titles, we have to change our mentality’ because it’s not possible that you are in a top game and you’re making three such big mistakes where you concede goals, especially the last goal.
“At that point, you have to feel the game. A point was the maximum, and you had to take it because you couldn’t give such a goal away at the top level.”
United is still fourth in the table, 11 points behind Arsenal despite having played one more game.
