Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has challenged his players to show their Premier League credentials after the Gunners' title race suffered a setback with a 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United.
Arteta's side have the opportunity to go seven points clear at the top with victory at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
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Arsenal took the lead through a Lisandro MartÃnez own goal, before Brian Mbuemo equalized for United at the end of the first half. Patrick Dorgu put the visitors ahead after the break with a superb long-range strike, only for Mikel Merino to equalize in the closing stages.
However, just minutes after Merino's goal, which came after a mistake by United goalkeeper Sane Lammens, Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha stunned the home crowd with a spectacular 25-yard strike to ensure victory for Eric ten Hag's side.
The defeat leaves Arsenal just four points behind second-placed Manchester City and third-placed Aston Villa, who closed the gap with wins at the weekend.
“The margins are extremely small, and we have made them even smaller. Now we have to react and see what we are made of,” Arteta said.
“We weren't at our level today, and we paid the price for it. We just gave it away.”
“We gave them a goal which is unusual and painful, and then they had two fantastic moments with unbelievable goals. We were not playing our best.”
It was Arsenal's first defeat in 13 matches in all competitions since losing at Aston Villa in December, and their first home defeat in 18 matches since losing to Bournemouth in May.
