Erik ten Hag: 'We need a really good performance to beat Arsenal'

The Red Devils were on the verge of making it 10 straight wins in all competitions on Wednesday evening, as they led 1-0 against Crystal Palace into second-half stoppage time.

However, Michael Olise scored a last-gasp leveller for the home side, with Man United dropping points in the league for the first time since the loss to Aston Villa at the start of November.

The 20-time English champions will return to action against division leaders Arsenal on Sunday, and Ten Hag is aware of the size of the task facing his team at the Emirates Stadium.

"It's obvious they are in a really good run, I think they deserve the position where they are now. It's a really good structure, there's a really good mentality, winning attitude in the team, and that's why they are now top of the league," Ten Hag told reporters during his pre-match press conference.

"They are in a great run but it is up to us to beat that run and we will do everything to do that."

Man United were victorious against Arsenal in the league earlier this season, with Antony and Marcus Rashford (two) scoring the goals in a 3-1 success at Old Trafford.

However, Ten Hag said that he noticed from the match that the Gunners were heading in the right direction.

"In the moment we played, you could already see that the manager and coaching staff was already for a long time working on that team," he said.

"You see really good structures in the team and I think that they even improved during the first half of the season. There is a really good spirit as well in that team.

"We know what to do and we have to be really good, we need a really good performance. If we do, I think we have a good chance to get a good result."

Man United are currently third in the Premier League table, three points behind second-placed Manchester City and eight behind leaders Arsenal, who have a game in hand.

Arsenal recorded a 3-1 win in the corresponding game at the Emirates Stadium last term, with Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka on the scoresheet for the hosts, while Cristiano Ronaldo registered for Ralf Rangnick's side.