Carrick Relishes Arsenal Test

Michael Carrick insists his Manchester United team-mates must deal with a difficult period and emerge stronger for the experience.

The midfielder scored his first goal of the season in Sunday's clash with Fulham, only to see Darren Bent snatch an equaliser to make it 2-2 deep into injury time. It meant more frustration for David Moyes' team who now trail fourth-placed Liverpool by nine points heading into the midweek fixture at Arsenal.

"We have a big game on Wednesday now and the only way to deal with it is to move on," Carrick told PA Sport and ManUtd.com. "Wednesday is a different game completely. We both had setbacks this weekend, so we will just look forward to the game.

"We have had success over the years. It [lifting yourselves] comes easily when you have success. You have to deal with the down times as well. You have to respect both and deal with them. It has been a tough season and we are not in a very good position in the league.

"We keep saying we need to go on a run. Performance-wise, it is a tough one to take when you play okay, creating enough chances to win three or four games, and we have still drawn again at home. We will pick ourselves up. That is what we do because that is the business we are in."

The celebrations that greeted the England international's deflected strike showed how much it means to the players and he explained why this is always going to be the case.

"Of course the players care," he asserted. "It is the pride we have in ourselves and each other. No-one wants to go through a spell when people are questioning you and things are going wrong. But we have had enough success over the years that we retain a belief in ourselves, even when things are not going so well.

"We keep trying to do the right things, which we did today, and in the end, you think it will pay off for you. We thought it had but it wasn't to be. It isn't for the want of trying. It is not a case of not caring. We care just as much, if not more, than anybody else."

Carrick was at least pleased to get off the mark for the campaign as he had several noteworthy attempts on Maarten Stekelenburg's goal during a one-side 90 minutes.

"I had a few shots but I think everyone did!" he stated. "It was one of those games. It was nice to see one go in."