Gabriel Jesus: Arsenal 'frustrated' but will learn and improve after defeat to Man United

Gunners lost 3-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday to bring an end to perfect start to Premier League season

Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 4, 2022 in Manchester, England. United won the match 3-1. Getty Images

Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal during the Premier League match against Manchester United. Defeat ended Arsenal's perfect start to the season after five straight wins. Getty Images

Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal. Getty Images

Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal interacts with his Brazil international teammate, Manchester United midfielder Casemiro. Getty Images

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 04: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal is challenged by Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on September 04, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan / Getty Images)

Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus reacts after a missed chance. Reuters

Arsenal's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus watches the ball go out of play. AFP

Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus is fouled by Manchester United's Scott McTominay. Reuters

Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal warms up prior to the Premier League match against Manchester United. Getty Images

Manchester United's French defender Raphael Varane vies with Arsenal's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus. AFP

Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka appeal to referee Paul Tierney. Reuters

Arsenal's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus is treated for a head injury. Reuters

Gabriel Jesus has said Arsenal were left feeling "frustrated" after Sunday's defeat to Manchester United but the Brazilian forward insisted they will learn from the match and improve.

Arsenal's perfect start to the Premier League season came to an end at Old Trafford, going down 3-1 to a rejuvenated United side who have now won four games in a row following a disastrous start that comprised successive defeats to Brighton and Brentford.

Brazilian winger Antony opened the scoring on his debut, days after his high-profile move from Ajax, and while Bukayo Saka levelled for Arsenal on the hour, a Marcus Rashford double secured maximum points for the hosts.

It was a match that Arsenal dominated from a possession standpoint, controlling more than 60 percent of the ball, while creating several chances that could have seen them return to London with at least a point.

"The feeling is frustration because we controlled the game and when we concede the first two goals, we were better than them," Jesus said. "But now is the time to learn from it and improve.

"We are doing so well this season but there are still things to improve for everyone, as individuals and as a team. Everyone is together and we stick together until the end.

"We came to play against a strong opponent and it’s always hard, it’s the Premier League. So we are not happy because, in my opinion, we could win today because we played so much better. But that’s football. They have quality as well and then if you don’t go there and kill, you are going to have a big problem - and that’s what happened today."

Jesus has hit the ground running since joining Arsenal from Manchester City in the summer. The 25-year-old Brazil international has contributed three goals and three assists from his first six matches, and forms part of an exciting young attack which also features 21-year-old Saka, Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard, 23, and fellow Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli, 21.

Man United v Arsenal player ratings

The average age of Arsenal's starting line-up at Old Trafford was 23.5, pointing to a clear policy of favouring and promoting youth, although that could come at the expense of experience. Jesus has no such concerns and is convinced the defeat to United will prove to be a minor setback.

"If you look at our team, you can see we are still young. It is the youngest team in the league, in the toughest league of the world," he said. "We are playing so good and then we play against an opponent who is young as well, but we have to learn from it.

"We have to stick together and improve as a team and don’t think about this [match], this one is gone. We have to learn and then do better next time. We are playing so well, but no one is perfect. No team in the world is perfect and we have to play to try to score and don’t concede.

"That’s football and we are doing this, but sometimes the opponent has quality as well. I think now it is our challenge to improve a lot of things, and come back strong."

Arsenal are next in action on Thursday when they begin their Europa League campaign away to FC Zurich, before returning to Premier League duty on Sunday with a home game against Everton.