Solskjaer defends De Gea after howler gifts Arsenal opener in gaffer’s first Man Utd loss in Premier League

ARSENAL beat Manchester United 2-0 on Sunday but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to blame David De Gea after the goalkeeper made a rare error in the defeat.

Granit Xhaka launched a speculative effort from 25 yards out midway through the first-half and the seemingly innocuous shot wrong footed De Gea.

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However United boss Solskjaer backed his goalkeeper while putting the goal down to the 'strange' way the shot moved through the air.

The Norwegian said afterwards: “I don’t class it as a mistake by De Gea.

"I was stood right behind the ball and we don’t put enough pressure on Xhaka, who must be Brazilian by the way.

“He’s struck the ball from outside the area and it serves and moves. It goes to David’s left and changes direction completely.

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“David is disappointed every time he concedes a goal but he’s been absolutely fantastic for us.”

After the jubilation of Wednesday's win at Paris Saint-Germain, United now fall back out of the Premier League top four.

Solksjaer questioned his side's finishing at the Emirates with Romelu Lukaku among those guilty of missing key chances.

"We started slowly, maybe a backlash from Wednesday night, but we created chances and when they get the first goal it becomes a different game," he added.

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"We created so many more chances today than when we beat them in the FA Cup.

"Sometimes it happens, we hit the woodwork twice and had five very big chances ourselves."

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sealed the points with a late Arsenal penalty but Solskjaer felt that referee Jon Moss will regret giving a foul for Fred's tangle with Alexandre Lacazette.

“I don’t think it’s a penalty and the referee will be disappointed when he sees it again," noted the Norwegian.

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“I don’t think there’s enough contact there to warrant a penalty. It’s not a dive by Lacazette, but apparently Fred must be very, very strong.

“We have to be disappointed with the result but the performance was a good one.

"We created miles more chances than we did when we won here in the FA Cup.

“The first goal always determines how the game will go but we created big chances, hit the woodwork twice and their keeper played really well.

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“We shouldn’t be too disappointed but they’ve got three points and we haven’t.

"The fight for the top four is going to go right down to the wire, but we’ve given ourselves a great chance to be in that fight.

“We’re two points behind fourth place and three behind third.

"It’s a good position to be in.”