Ten Hag: Small margins were decisive

A deflected Declan Rice shot and a breakaway goal from Gabriel Jesus deep into stoppage time gave the Gunners a 3-1 victory, which was cruel on the Reds after Alejandro Garnacho’s 88th-minute strike was ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside. Earlier, Marcus Rashford's sublime effort had been cancelled out by Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard's equaliser. 

Ten Hag was happy with the performance of his players in what was a tight match and believes the Reds were unlucky not to have more to show for our efforts in north London.

Scroll down to read and listen to what the boss had to say in his post-match interviews with MUTV and Sky Sports…

WE NEEDED MORE LUCK

“I think the performance is right from us. I think we played [a] very good game. But everything went against us and then, of course, then you don't win the game and if [we had] a little bit more luck, you win the game.”

DECISIONS DIDN’T GO OUR WAY

“You saw the game but it’s no offside [for the Garnacho goal which was ruled out], wrong angle. It’s a penalty on [Rasmus] Hojlund and then we concede a goal [scored by Declan Rice] where there’s a foul on Jonny Evans. It's so clear and obvious. Okay, you can now say finish your chances. You can say don't concede the goal after you go 1-0 up. Yeah, it's all true. But I think there's really a step forward and I was happy with the performance. [The Declan Rice goal] is offside so you have to accept it but I see the angle. I don’t see [it] as offside. No [I have not sought clarification from the officials] but that doesn’t change the result. That is what it is. You have to accept it.”

PERFORMANCE WAS A STEP FORWARD

“We are more compact, very good defending, high block, lower block. Everyone was involved and then we break like the first goal. I think on the ball we were calm and of course I see definitely also room for improvement and I see the moment where we can go forward. We missed, I think, some passes forward, but then it could have hurt them more. But I think, overall, I'm happy with the performance from the team.”

HOJLUND AND MARTIAL PLAYED WELL

“I think he [Rasmus] played very good. But also I think Anthony Martial's was a very good performance, so I was pleased and definitely I think Rasmus Hojlund had [a] very good impact on the game.”

OUR START TO THE SEASON

“Of course you want to take more from it. The first game [against Wolves] was not our game, then we had a little luck, also maybe [it should have been a] penalty [when] no penalty given. And now [against Arsenal] I think and in Spurs there was a penalty that we should have had and now again. So yeah that feels a little bit nasty. But yeah, you have to accept it. But as I said, I see a good pattern. I see a trend line going up and that is what we take and we go in the international break and then we continue.”

WE MUST IMPROVE

“We have to improve, definitely. But you see, and also what we have seen last year, we can beat everyone. It was such small margins today, so it could also have been our side. So when Garna [Garnacho] is finishing [for the goal that is ruled out], it's a goal that we're winning this game. So it's that close.”