Manchester United: Michael Carrick rues 'bad day' as Arsenal blitz Red Devils

Michael Carrick has lamented Manchester United's sloppy start in the heavy defeat at Arsenal. He has called on his teammates to bounce back after the international break.

An Alexis Sanchez double and a goal from Mesut Ozil propelled Arsenal to an insurmountable 3-0 lead in a breathless opening 20 minutes at the Emirates Stadium, with United unable to respond despite seeing plenty of the ball as the game wore on. The defeat meant the Red Devils dropped down to third in the league table, with Arsenal moving up to second owing to their superior goal difference.

Carrick admitted United were not good enough on the day and hoped the performance was just a "one-off". "We just didn't start well enough, or quick enough, and conceded goals," Carrick told MUTV after the match.

"When you concede goals at this level then it makes it difficult to come back. I think we improved as the game went on, but it just wasn't good enough from us.

"It was certainly a bad day. But as players and coaching staff we'll analyse it and come back better."

'Too much space'

Carrick said he was heartened by United's response in the second half and cited Petr Cech's save from Anthony Martial just before half-time as a key moment in the match. "We just gave them a bit too much space and they played well and it came off for them," he observed.

"In the second half we came out believing that we could get one goal and get ourselves back in the game. It was a big ask, to score three, but if Martial's chance had gone in just before half-time it gives us a better chance, but it was a good save. Second half we came out and were better, but we didn't score and the longer it went, it was pretty much game over."

United's players go away on international duty for two weeks before travelling to Goodison Park to take on Everton in their next league assignment. "We want to bounce back and we are going to have to wait a while to do that. The last international break came after the Swansea game, so we've just got to go away, refresh and come back stronger again," Carrick said.