United were unbeaten in the Premier League this season until their bottom-versus-top clash at Molineux on Saturday ended in a 2-1 defeat.
McCarthy was delighted with his players for securing that result but does not think momentum - or lack of it - will count for much when they face Arsenal.
To illustrate the point, McCarthy recalled his side's previous away day - a disappointing 1-0 reverse against Bolton.
"I don't take the view that the game before has a direct effect on the next game," he said. "It can't, because when you see our result against Bolton, how on earth does it stack up what we did against Manchester United?
"Most people would have thought they'd have turned up here and slapped us."
Source: PA
Source: PA