.Paul Pogba to miss Manchester derby after straight red card
By Valentine Amanze
with agency report
Anthonio Valencia’s fourth minute goal, and Jesse Lingards’s 11th minute were what Manchester United needed to rattle Arsenal at Emirates before the end of the first 45 minutes on Saturday in a premier league match.
At resumption, Lacazette’s strike at the 46th minute restored hope for Arsenal before Lingard’s tap in the 18 yard box shattered Arsene Wenger’s dream of a win over Mourinho’s Red Devils. The match ended 3-1 in favour of Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s Paul Pogba is set to miss the derby with Manchester City next week after the Frenchman was sent off in the 3-1 win at Arsenal on Saturday.
The midfielder was dismissed by referee Andre Marriner in the 74th-minute at the Emirates after a challenge on Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin.
Pogba’s studs caught the back of Bellerin’s leg as he lunged for the ball.
A straight red card carries a three-match ban, meaning Pogba would miss City’s visit to Old Trafford on Dec.10, as well as a home game against Bournemouth on Dec.13 and the trip to West Brom on Dec. 17.
United will be able to appeal the suspension, but it appears unlikely the Football Association will overturn Marriner’s decision.
Manager Jose Mourinho was not ready to comment on the clash when speaking to the BBC immediately after the game, but still put in a dig on Arsenal players’ willingness to go to ground, including for a late incident where Laurent Koscielny was booked for a clumsy challenge on Romelu Lukaku.
“I don’t know. I leave for you that one,” he said. “I leave for you the Lukaku situation with Koscielny, I leave for you the Arsenal players on the grass. The grass is absolutely beautiful — I think there is a desire to go onto the grass.”
However, Mourinho added in his news conference that Pogba did not intentioanlly stamp on Bellerin.
“Paul is very frustrated because everybody knows that Paul is a clean player, and had no intention at all to be close to a red card.”
Pogba will still be able to play against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old’s absence against City will be a significant blow for Jose Mourinho as his team look to reduce their lead at the top of the table.
Pogba has already missed games against Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea this season because of injury.
Jesse Lingard said his absence against City would be “a blow, but the team has the players to adapt to that. Everyone’s got to work hard to get in the starting XI.”