5 factors that led to Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's first league defeat as Manchester United boss | Premier League 2018-19

Solskjaer has lost his first EPL match as Manchester United manager
Solskjaer has lost his first EPL match as Manchester United manager

#3 Controversial penalty decision

Jon Moss issued a controversial penalty call
Jon Moss issued a controversial penalty call

Arsenal went ahead in the game courtesy of a first half strike by Granit Xhaka and they showed grit and resolution to hold onto this lead until half-time.

As expected, United seized the initiative upon resumption for the second half, dominating proceedings and were very much in the driving seat in the early part of the second period in an attempt to force through an equalizer before Fred tracked back to win the ball from Lacazette with the 28-year-old striker going down in the box under minimal contact.

Referee Jon Moss wasted no time in pointing to the spot, as from his view, it appeared as if the Brazilian midfielder had upended the French forward, although replays showed the Arsenal man had made the most of the contact.

Aubameyang coolly slotted home the penalty to put Arsenal 2-0 up and suck the air out of United's guts.

At 1-0 down, United would undoubtedly have fancied their chances of getting an equalizer, but those chances were further widened with the controversial penalty call and it is because of instances like this that fans cannot wait for the implementation of VAR in the EPL from next season.

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