Manchester United vs Arsenal: Jose Mourinho gives his verdict on Paul Pogba's performance
United twice fought back to earn a share of the points at Old Trafford with the Frenchman coming on as a second-half substitute
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Your support makes all the difference.Jose Mourinho was pleased with Paul Pogba's response after he dropped the French star for the draw with Arsenal.
Pogba paid the price for a poor display at Southampton as he was left on the bench - alongside Romelu Lukaku - as United twice fought back to earn a share of the points at Old Trafford.
Mourinho denied his team's level of happiness was improved by neither being in the starting line-up and instead suggested he was pleased with what he saw when the pair did come on in the second half.
"I think Paul came on and gave a good contribution. I brought freshness and power to the attacking players but our defenders were dead. That made it more difficult to keep that happiness for the 95 minutes.
"In the last part of the game it was Arsenal wanting the draw, diving, getting the game stopped."
After a positive opening by United, David De Gea allowed Shkodran Mustafi's header to slip through his hands, with Ander Herrera failing to clear in time on the line.
Arsenal's second goal saw Marcos Rojo try desperately to make up for his error in giving the ball to Alexandre Lacazette only to slide in and score an own goal.
United responded quickly both times, with Anthony Martial grabbing the first equaliser before a calamity at the back for Arsenal allowed Jesse Lingard to nip in and level only 13 seconds after Rojo's own goal.
Mourinho was forced into a number of changes by his ever-growing injury list, particularly in defence. He selected Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly despite neither being fully fit while Rojo made his first appearance of the season and Diogo Dalot his first ever start in the Premier League.
Mourinho said: "Maybe we feel frustrated with the result, we feel frustrated with some mistakes, we feel frustrated with some moments where a little bit more quality would be needed but we have to be happy with the spirit, we have to be happy with the effort, the dynamic, the intensity.
"The team had a big soul. We scored four goals and we drew 2-2. Even in matches like today where we play well, we always shoot ourselves.
"But good performances. I could speak about everyone. Especially in moments where we are not very happy with the result, we need happiness on the pitch."
Mourinho reserved special praise for 19-year-old Dalot, who showed plenty of attacking intent down the right.
"The kid Diogo, fantastic," added the United boss. "I think Gary Neville must be thinking now that Manchester United has a right-back for 10 years."
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