Returning from an injury and still adjusting to the Premier League, to be given the responsibility of such a big game was throwing him in at the deep end. Mkhitaryan was rightly hooked at half-time and United were much better after the restart as a result. The hosts dominated and looked as though they would equalise but time ran out for them.
It has since been reported that the Armenian will miss United's next three games after his thigh injury from international duty has flared up. Just a month in, Mkhitaryan's start to life at United has been fairly rubbish, with him failing to pick up where he left off in the Bundesliga. Still, even if playing in the derby wasn't the best move, United fans have struggled to understand how Wayne Rooney has managed to keep him out of the team.