Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United are 'shooting' themselves after Arsenal draw

Mourinho was full of praise for United's display in their 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford

Jose Mourinho believes Manchester United are “shooting themselves” with the number of mistakes his players have made of late.

Mourinho was full of praise for United’s display in their 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, having demanded a greater level of intensity from his players.

United came from behind twice in a scrappy, chaotic affair that was low on quality but full of spirit. Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard almost immediately cancelled out Shkodran Mustafi’s header and a Marcos Rojo own goal.

Rojo was guilty of losing possession easily before diverting Alexandre Lacazette’s shot into his own net, while Mustafi’s first-half opener was helped over the goal-line by the usually reliable David de Gea.

The draw leaves United without a Premier League win in four games and eighth in the top-flight table, behind Everton and Bournemouth.

Mourinho believes his side are largely playing well, however, and that preventable, individual mistakes are costing them three points.

“We scored four goals and we drew 2-2, but we score four goals and even in matches like today where we play well we always shoot ourselves,” he said.

“Sometimes we miss chances with an open goal, other times defensive mistakes, but fantastic spirit, good performances.”

Unai Emery’s Arsenal arrived with great expectations following their victory in Sunday’s north London derby, and Mourinho feels United did well against in-form opponents.

“I feel that it is a moment where, for example, we play against a team [Arsenal] that is at the top of their season, in a moment where everything goes well for them,” he said.

“That’s clearly a team on a high against a team with so many problems, and the top of these problems: during football matches, we shoot ourselves.

“How many times are we the team with the big occasion in the start? Almost always, we don’t score. The opposition goes there and they don’t know how but they are winning 1-0.”