Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has used the "moral victory" card after their pre-season loss to Manchester United in New York.

The Gunners bowed 0-2 against the Red Devils and recorded a 5-0 win against the Major League Soccer All-Star team a few days before.

Arteta is not bothered by the loss to their Premier League rivals. He even liked it better than the one where they had five goals.

"I saw a lot of positive things, things I really like much more than the game that we won [against the MLS All-Stars] although the result is very different," he told reporters after the match.

What part did he like about the loss? He sees it as a litmus test the club can use to fight for the trophy next season.

"That errors are part of football and you have to overcome them as well," he said.

"And a test to see as well how painful it is to lose a football match even if it's a test match."

More takeaways from Arteta in the loss

Arsenal have a new midfield trio in Martin Odegaard and new recruits Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, acquired before they flew to the United States.

The three did not perform well in the match, with many individual lapses, but Arteta is not worried.

"That when they play 55 times together they will be better," he said.

"It will flow better, they will understand each other better and will be more dominant and better. But it takes time to glide and we have to respect that."