Mikel Arteta has been enthused by a "beautiful" reaction from his Arsenal players to their last-gasp defeat to Manchester United.

Matheus Cunha's sublime finish in the 87th minute saw United claim a 3-2 win over the Premier League leaders at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Arsenal are now without a league win in three games, having previously drawn 0-0 against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, meaning their lead at the top has been cut to four points.

However, the Gunners have stayed perfect in the Champions League, and they need only a point from Wednesday's meeting with Kairat Almaty to finish top of the league phase.

Asked about how his team had responded to their setback against United, Arteta said: "The reaction has been excellent.

"We took a moment to bring the temperature down, to pause and to reflect and to ask questions.

"One is how do we feel? How do I feel? And how do we want to live the next four months?

"And it was so encouraging and beautiful because what came out of there is very simple. 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 a conviction that we're going to win it.

"And this is the mindset and where we're going to put the energy.

"I'm just hoping everyone who is related to this club, especially the supporters, are going to jump on this boat because this is the way we're going to live the next four months."

Arteta confirmed that defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba would miss the Kairat game due to "niggles".

He also delivered a defence of attackers Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, both of whom have come in for criticism as of late.

Saka has not scored in 13 games, but Arteta said: "Look what he has done over the past 200 games. It is simple."

Arteta also feels there is no player better suited to wear the captain's armband than Odegaard.

"Martin is a fantastic guy around the changing room," he said of the playmaker.

"He's well liked and respected. Discipline and standards, he's also one of the people who walks the walk. The armband couldn't sit on a better person than him."

Arsenal are looking for their eighth straight victory in the Champions League – only one other English side has managed 8+ consecutive wins in the competition, with Manchester City winning 10 in a row between May 2023 and March 2024.

The Gunners have won all seven of their European matches this term by a 2+ goal margin.

No team in European Cup/Champions League history has ever won eight in a row by 2+ goals.