Paul Pogba has been silencing the critics this season, but he was yet to deliver a truly signature performance, a dominant showing in a crucial game against a top side.
On Saturday, he came the closest he has to that moment, leading Manchester United‘s counter-attack in a 3-1 win over Arsenal and bagging two assists.
Unfortunately, what people will remember most of Pogba from this game is the red card he earned late on, with a careless, reckless tackle on Hector Bellerin undoing his good work leading up to the point.
Here’s a look at how Pogba performed overall.
BASIC STATS
Goals – 0
Assists – 2
Shots – 1
Shots on target – 0
Pass Accuracy – 82%
Key Passes – 2
Touches – 37
Dribbles – 1
EFFECTIVENESS
Until his sending off, Pogba played his role to perfection.
He was the link between United’s defence and attack, the conductor of their counter-attacking play.
His two assists in a big game away to a top six rival showed his newfound confidence as a United player, the sort of performance people have been waiting for him to deliver.
And then he threw it away with a careless challenge which will see him miss United’s crucial clash against Manchester City next week.
While there was the mitigating circumstance of being down to 10 men, United reclined into a defensive shell without Pogba’s creation.
His influence is immeasurable and his qualities exceptional as the Frenchman made the incredibly difficult look incredibly easy.
Although he clearly didn’t mean the challenge which earned him a red, it unfortunately overshadowed a quintessential Pogba performance.
The red card tarnished what was one of Pogba’s best games in a United shirt.
KEY MOMENTS
4th min, ASSIST: The moment that set the course of the game. Arsenal may have dominated after United went 2-0 up, but the two early goals were what determined how the game would be played, and this was the first of them. Antonio Valencia pounced on a loose pass from Laurent Koscielny and played it into Pogba. The Frenchman took the quickest of moments to weigh his options before returning the ball to Valencia, who beat Petr Cech with a superb low finish.
63rd min, ASSIST: This sealed the game for United. A quick counter saw Jesse Lingard run at the heart of the Arsenal defence, then lay it off to Pogba. The midfielder’s skill and strength were enough to see off Koscielny, and from there it was just a matter of laying it across to Lingard for the simplest of goals.
74th min, RED CARD: One of those unlucky but also undebatable red cards. Pogba went on a run with the ball, took a heavy touch, kept running and thus ended up going studs up on Bellerin. Clear red which means he’ll miss the crucial clash against Manchester City next week.
VERDICT
This would have been a 9, had it not been for that red card.
It was careless, but it definitely falls under the category of dangerous play, and Pogba should know better.
Take that red card out of the game and this is almost the signature Pogba performance United have been waiting for.
Composed, skillful, and powerful in midfield, and the link that made United’s attacks work.
Two assists and a dominant display in midfield, tempered by a moment of stupidity.
RATING: 8/10
