Paul Pogba fronts up and apologises for conceding the penalty that caused Manchester United’s defeat

Paul Pogba owned up to his ‘stupid mistake’ after he gave away a penalty in Manchester United‘s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converted the second half spot kick for the Gunners as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side struggled despite entering the match on the back of a thrilling 5-0 victory against RB Leipzig in the Champions League in midweek. 

The French midfielder admitted the team’s performance was not good enough and he took responsibility after tripping Hector Bellerin inside the box, leading to the penalty that sealed the game.  

Paul Pogba owned his ‘stupid mistake’ after he gave away a penalty in Man United’s 1-0 defeat

The midfielder tripped Hector Bellerin inside the box that gave Arsenal the winning goal

‘After a great team performance (vs RB Leipzig), we didn’t do it today,’ Pogba admitted to BBC Sport.

‘We need to find why, the details and for myself, I cannot give a foul away like this. I thought I would touch the ball, I didn’t and cost us the goal today.

‘We have to be better and score goals as well. We need to be better with the ball and be more dangerous.

‘We have to do better, starting with me.’

Pogba explained that defending is not one of his strong assets and that he plans to improve

Pogba was reflective after the match, as he explained that defending inside the box is not one of his strong assets and that he plans to improve. 

He added: ‘When you try to touch the ball before the guy, I felt like I touched him a bit. I knew I was in the box and I knew it would be a mistake. 

‘At the end, I shouldn’t give a penalty like that. I should let him take the ball and try to block the cross. 

‘Maybe I was bit out of breath because of the running just before and that made me do this stupid mistake. I will learn from that. 

‘I am not the best defensively in the box and I have to work on this. I can always improve on that.’

Pogba (right) suggested a shortness of breath could have been a cause of his ‘stupid mistake’