Certainly, Paul Pogba was not about to stop in the media mixed zone to explain the 74th-minute red-card challenge on Hector Bellerin that means if Manchester United are to put any sort of dent in their cross-city rival’s procession to the title next week, they must do so without their most influential player.

He had just planted all of his studs into the back of Bellerin’s knee and slow motion TV replays were particularly cruel in highlighting how little Pogba seemed to do to avoid the collision.

Luckily, near to the exit from the Emirates, a more sympathetic audience was waiting. Former players William Gallas and Thierry Henry had more joy persuading Pogba to stop for a brief chat and, even though the group was frustratingly just beyond earshot, it was abundantly clear to onlookers where the conversation had headed.

Gallas in particular was interested in the sending off and Pogba seemed to suggest with a hasty reconstruction of the event that, if the player had gone in wholeheartedly for a full-blooded challenge, there would not have been an issue.

Next, Pogba mimicked Bellerin’s actual manoeuvre, which was to drop to one knee in front of the incoming United star. Pogba seemed to be suggesting that he had been duped into being the aggressor.

Whatever Bellerin’s motives, there can be no question that Pogba’s challenge met all the criteria required for a red card and the shame is that it came after he had shown just why United need him so badly if they are to stand a chance against Pep Guardiola’s high-flying leaders on Sunday.

David De Gea was magnificent with 14 saves – equalling the Premier League record – to prevent Arsenal from clawing their way back into a game which they all but handed to their opponents.

In the fourth minute, Laurent Koscielny passed straight to Antonio Valencia and, after a one-two with Pogba, the United captain squeezed a shot through Petr Cech’s legs.

Then, in the 11th minute, Jesse Lingard picked the pocket of Shkodran Mustafi and, with the help of some sublime awareness from Anthony Martial, the England international was fed back in to double the lead.

Overall, Arsenal had 75 per cent possession and created plenty of chances but it was only when Alexis Sanchez’s chip was knocked back intelligently by Aaron Ramsey that Alexandre Lacazette found a way past De Gea.

Arsenal pushed for an equaliser but succumbed inevitably to a sucker punch and once again it was Pogba who instrumental in delivering it.

Picked out by Lingard, the France international bullied his way past Koscielny to the goalline and set up his colleague for a simple tap-in to secure the three points.

With Pogba off the pitch, United were far less convincing, though, and had to survive some strong penalty appeals. But substitute Ander Herrera is refusing to let it put a downer on that all-important derby.

“It’s a shame he got the card,” he said. “But Jesse Lingard is on fire now. Romelu Lukaku didn’t score but he helped us a lot. The centre-backs like Victor are in fantastic form, so we are optimistic.

“Everything is very good and we are going to find our best form very soon. We are second and are chasing the top of the table.

“However, we don’t think about City. Now it’s CSKA [in the Champions League] and we are not qualified yet.”

If not United to challenge City, who else though? Tottenham had already ruled themselves out of the title race nine days ago after a draw with West Brom.

And after losing their 12-game winning streak at the Emirates, perhaps it was time for Arsenal, too, to throw in the Premier League title towel. Not a bit of it.

“I am not Pochettino, I am Arsene Wenger,” the Arsenal manager proudly declared. “I am here to fight as long as I can, as long as mathematically it’s possible you have to fight, you cannot give any other message out.

“I believe the game has to make us angry and even more determined. If I am a player, and I think with what we produced, we have a huge potential, and we lose the game, we cannot accept that.”