Arsene Wenger: 'We have to have a better level of fight than that and have to bounce back against Swansea on Wednesday night and not feel sorry for ourselves'

Published: February 29, 2016
By STEVE BARNETT 

Premier League
MANCHESTER UNITED 3, ARSENAL 2 

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has challenged his side to show "their fighting spirit" on Wednesday night when Swansea visit the Emirates Stadium. 

The Gunners' title chase was severely damaged on Sunday when teenager Marcus Rashford scored to hand a weakened Manchester United squad a thrilling 3-2 victory at Old Trafford. 

Wenger said that he was "disappointed" by the goals Arsenal gave away, adding that he expects to see a more ruthless display in front of their own fans in midweek. 

"We dropped three important points against United," he said. 

"We have to have a better level of fight than that and have to bounce back against Swansea on Wednesday night and not feel sorry for ourselves. 

"Mathematically, what it means, we will know at the end of the season." 

The unknown quantity that is Rashford struck from close range to open the scoring in the 29th minute, before heading home a second three minutes later. 

Arsenal pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time through Danny Welbeck, but Rashford continued to impress as just after the hour mark he picked out Ander Herrera, whose shot was deflected in. 

Mesut Ozil's volley in the 69th minute gave third-placed Arsenal hope, but United held on. 

Afterwards Wenger rued the goals his side gave away. 

"I cannot fault our commitment and desire but unfortunately we conceded easy goals," he said. "The biggest regret was we had so much of the ball but we conceded three goals. It is difficult to win away from home after that. 

"On the setpieces, I think we should have done more with the free-kicks we had around the box and from the middle of the park we weren’t dangerous enough.” 

"Now we must focus on Wednesday," Wenger added. "We will have to answer quick and strong." 

ARSENAL: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin (Elneny, 70), Ramsey, Walcott (Giroud, 63), Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck (Iwobi, 83).
Substitutes not used: Ospina, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Campbell.
Attendance: 75,329