“We Asked Two Questions” — Mikel Arteta Reveals What Arsenal Players Discussed After Manchester United Defeat

Mikel Arteta has opened up on a “beautiful” team meeting that has convinced him Arsenal are mentally ready to fight on all fronts this season, following a frustrating 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

The loss at the Emirates marked the Gunners’ first home defeat of the campaign, cutting their Premier League lead at the top to just four points. The result, which came after a promising start, was a reminder of the pressure on Arteta’s side, who have finished second in each of the past three seasons. Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira was quick to question the team’s mental strength in the wake of the loss, highlighting the challenges the Gunners face in holding their title advantage.

However, Arteta believes that perspective and communication have been key in turning the players’ mindset around. After convening his squad on Monday, he revealed that the meeting was designed to reset emotions, assess the team’s morale, and chart a plan for the next four months of a demanding season.

“The reaction has been excellent,” Arteta said during his press conference. “We took a moment to bring the temperature down, to pause and to reflect and ask two questions: one is, how do we feel, and how do I feel myself? And then, how are we going to live the next four months?”

The meeting, he explained, produced a clear and positive outcome.

“It was so encouraging and beautiful because what came out of that is very simple,” Arteta continued. “We have earned the right to be in a great position in four competitions, and in the next four months, we’re going to live and play with enjoyment, with a lot of courage and with the conviction that we’re going to win it.”

Arteta emphasised that this mindset was not only for the players but also for the club’s supporters.

“This is going to be the mindset and where we’re going to put the energy. And I’m just hoping that everybody that is related to this club, especially our supporters, jump on that boat because this is the way that we’re going to live the next four months because we deserve to live like this.”

The manager’s comments come after a tense atmosphere at the Emirates, where pockets of boos erupted at full-time as the team struggled to maintain control of the match. Arteta urged fans to focus on the bigger picture and the potential for historic achievements this season.

“That’s why I encouraged them to jump in this boat because it’s going to be fun,” he said. “Because the excitement, that conviction, that energy, that will is the way you have to live when you want to achieve a dream. When you want to achieve something that you play for 10 months. Out of that, a lot of incredible things are going to emerge. Some of the things we cannot even imagine. For me, that’s the only way to live it because we’re going to give absolutely everything.”

Arsenal’s position in multiple competitions underscores the point. Domestically, they remain four points clear at the top of the Premier League, while in the Champions League they boast seven straight wins. The Gunners are also just one victory away from the Carabao Cup final and remain in the FA Cup fourth round.

“It’s part of the enjoyment to be at the table in these conversations, in this incredible competition, and that’s where we want to be,” Arteta added. “If not, we have to go and do something else. I mean, if we don’t enjoy where we are as a club… do we prefer where we were six years ago or ten years ago? Let’s enjoy the moment. Let’s embrace it and let’s make sure that we get the most out of that.”

Arteta’s message was clear: the team must focus on resilience, belief, and enjoying the journey as much as chasing the results. With a packed schedule ahead, the Gunners have an opportunity to use this mindset to compete on multiple fronts and finally push for silverware across competitions.