The Premier League season started with Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Riccardo Calafiori scored the decisive goal in the 13th minute after goalkeeper Altay Bayindir made a big mistake.
United were the better side for long spells, but they could not find the net. New signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha both started, and Benjamin Sesko came on late, but nothing changed. For Arsenal, debuts were given to Martín Zubimendi and Viktor Gyökeres, though the team never hit top form.
Patrick Dorgu hit the post for United, and Cunha troubled Ben White with some sharp moves. Still, the only goal came early, and it sealed the result of Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United, a vital win for Mikel Arteta’s team as they begin their chase for their first league title since 2004.
Arsenal’s Squad Depth Makes a Difference
A key talking point after Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United was the squad depth that Arteta now has. The Gunners spent heavily this summer to build a stronger bench, and it showed at Old Trafford.
Players like Kai Havertz and Myles Lewis-Skelly were regular starters last season, but Arteta also had Jurriën Timber, Mikel Merino, and Noni Madueke, a £52 million signing from Chelsea, available as options. This gives Arsenal a much deeper and stronger squad than before.
Last season’s title hopes faded because of injuries, but now the Gunners appear better prepared. Against United, Arteta’s substitutions brought energy and physicality, which helped protect their narrow lead.
The decision to start Calafiori at left back surprised some, but it proved decisive. His header made all the difference in Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United, showing once again his knack for scoring crucial goals in Manchester after his stunning strike against City last year.
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United’s Goalkeeping Woes and Transfer Questions
The story of Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United largely came down to a mistake from United’s goalkeeper. Bayindir was chosen ahead of Onana, who has just recovered from injury, but the Turkish keeper failed badly.
When Declan Rice delivered a corner, Bayindir froze on his line and failed to deal with the ball. Calafiori was left with a simple header to score. It was a huge error and raised more doubts about United’s goalkeeping situation.
Although United have denied strong links to Gianluigi Donnarumma, they had earlier tried to sign Emiliano Martínez from Aston Villa. With the transfer window still open, the pressure may grow to bring in another goalkeeper after the disappointment of Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United.
There were positives for Amorim, though. United’s 3-4-3 formation looked good, with Dalot and Dorgu providing width. Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes held their own against Rice, Zubimendi, and Ødegaard. Cunha, in particular, was bright and gave Arsenal problems.
But as shown by the result of Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United, small mistakes can decide tight matches. United will now look to bounce back against Fulham and Burnley before facing Manchester City in mid-September.
Mixed Debuts and Højlund’s Uncertain Future
Another big story from Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United was the much-anticipated debut of Viktor Gyökeres for Arsenal. Signed for €73 million from Sporting CP, the striker was expected to make a strong impact.
However, Gyökeres struggled. He provided a good cross for Martinelli but did not manage a single shot before being substituted. He ended with only 21 touches and four completed passes, a surprising stat considering he had registered at least one shot in every league game for Sporting in the past two seasons. Still, this was only his first Premier League appearance, and improvement is expected.
For United, the absence of Rasmus Højlund was telling. The striker, once seen as their future, was not even on the bench for Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United. Amorim preferred Joshua Zirkzee in the squad despite his fitness issues, which suggests Højlund is no longer in the manager’s plans. Reports indicate United may accept a loan move with an option to buy, with AC Milan interested.
As the dust settles on Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United, the Gunners celebrate a hard-fought win to start their campaign, while United are left with questions about their goalkeeper, striker situation, and whether this season can finally bring consistent improvement under Amorim.
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