Paul Pogba: Manchester United midfielder sorry for ‘stupid mistake’ which led to Arsenal penalty

Pogba’s challenge on Hector Bellerin led to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s decisive penalty

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba (Manchester United via Getty Images)

Paul Pogba said that he was "a bit out of breath" while making the “stupid” tackle on Hector Bellerin which ultimately saw Manchester United lose to Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the only goal of the game from the spot as Mikel Arteta's side claimed their first win away to a member of the so-called 'top six' in more than five games.

Pogba admitted that his challenge on Bellerin to concede the penalty was a "stupid mistake" and suggested that he is currently struggling for fitness.

The 27-year-old tested positive for coronavirus before the start of United's season and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dropped him to the substitutes for three games recently.

"We know it's a poor performance. Myself, I cannot give a foul away like this," Pogba told BBC Sport after the final whistle at Old Trafford.  "I thought I would touch the ball but I didn't. [I] cost us the goal today with the penalty.

"Like I say, details. We have to do better, the team, myself, it starts with me. I thought I would touch the ball but I didn't. [I] cost us the goal today with the penalty.Like I say, details. We have to do better, the team, myself, it starts with me.

"Maybe I was a bit out of breath, it made me do this stupid mistake. I will learn from that, I'm not the best defensively in the box, I can work on that.

"We also need to do more with the ball creating chances. We didn't expect to be man for man, but after this we can adapt, we have to find a solution but we didn't. That's why we weren't dangerous with the ball. But like I say, the team performance needs to be a lot better."

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