Manchester United have been handed an early blow ahead of their clash against Arsenal on 19 November after Zlatan Ibrahimovic picked up his fifth booking of the season. The Red Devils' top marksman will miss the clash at Old Trafford following the upcoming international break as he will be serving a one-game suspension.

The 35-year-old picked up the booking for a bad foul on Leroy Fer late in the game against Swansea, which they won 3-1 courtesy of a brace from Ibrahimovic and a screamer from Paul Pogba in the first-half. The former Sweden international has scored six goals in 11 games in the Premier League and his absence will be a big blow to United, who are currently looking to make up ground in the title race and are eight points behind leaders Liverpool.

Ibrahimovic admitted that he thought referees in England were more lenient than in the other leagues in Europe but made it clear that he had no qualms about picking up a booking, if it was for the good of the team. The former Paris Saint-Germain forward had gone six league games without a goal before scoring a brace against Swansea, but revealed that he was not worried about the goal drought, as he was creating enough chances in previous games when he failed to score.

"I thought in England we play rough. No? That's what I heard. Every time I've tried to play rough I get a yellow card," Ibrahimovic said, as quoted by Sky Sports.

"I don't know why he gave me a yellow card. Maybe I was too tired to hear why, but I sacrifice for the team, and if I need to get a yellow I will take it, I have no problems," the Swede explained.

"No [I was not worried about the run]. As long as you create the chances, which I have been doing.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss Manchester United's clash against Arsenal on 19 November Getty

"The most important thing is the win, and the goals will come, as long as you create them, you're there and you keep focus, the goals will come, I'm not worried about that," he added with regards to his recent goal drought.