Harry Maguire admits Manchester United deserved to lose to Arsenal in their Premier League meeting on New Year's Day.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Emirates as goals from Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis Papastathopoulos secured Mikel Arteta his first win as Arsenal manager.
United made three changes from the side which defeated Burnley at the weekend but were unable to find a way to ever really their opponents on Wednesday night.
Despite a bright opening to the match, United soon paid the price for some poor defensive work and Maguire believes his side paid the ultimate price for failing to do the 'basics' right.
"I think we are disappointed to go in 2-0 down at half-time because we should have weathered the storm," Maguire told MUTV.
"Especially don't concede from a set-play. When we are not playing great, do the basics well and doing the basics is heading the ball out of your box and keeping the ball out of your net.
"We knew going in at 2-0 at half-time the next goal was crucial, we had chances in the second-half, but we deserved to lose, we weren't good enough. We have got to improve for next week."
