Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United: Pogba's discussion with Mourinho led to dismissal, says Lampard
The Frenchman was sent off in the 74th minute of the game for a two-footed stamp on Hector Bellerin.
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard believes that Paul Pogba's red card for a vitriolic stamp on Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin was influenced by his heated discussion with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho minutes before the incident. The Frenchman was sent off in the 74th minute of the game for a two-footed stamp on the Spaniard.
Even though United still managed to secure the three points at Arsenal, the red card is a big blow for Mourinho's side as Pogba is now set to miss the derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford on December 10. Just minutes before Pogba was dismissed from the match, he was involved in a heated discussion with Mourinho on the sidelines.
Pogba's unavailability is likely to hurt the Red Devils, with the midfielder set to miss the next three games in domestic competitions.
Lampard is convinced that the altercation with Mourinho left the Frenchman infuriated and would have certainly affected his mindset when he launched into the tackle with Bellerin.
"He was very heated and I'm of the opinion that if a manager gives you a message in a game, you accept it as a player," Lampard told BT Sport, as quoted by the Express. "You can talk about it in the dressing room afterwards – you don't need to throw arms as he does here. Considering he got the red card a few minutes afterwards, I think he got emotional, I think he lost his head.
"It wasn't a tackle he needed to make. You're leading 3-1, you're protecting a lead and you understand the importance of the game and I think it's affected his approach to the tackle."
Mourinho admitted after the match that he was yet to see a replay of the incident on TV, but the United boss suggested that Arsenal players, especially captain Laurent Koscielny, played a big part in referee Andre Marriner's decision.
The Gunners failed to take advantage of the man advantage but had reason to be dissatisfied with the referee after having a blatant penalty turned down as Matteo Darmian hacked Danny Welbeck to the floor in the box.
