Arsenal got their Premier League title tilt off to a winning start as they earned a narrow victory over Ruben Amorim’s new-look Manchester United team at Old Trafford.
Sunday’s match may have been Arsenal’s first of the new season, but Mikel Arteta’s team picked up where they left off in 2024-25 as a set-piece goal settled the result in their favour.
It arrived in the 13th minute when Altay Bayindir flapped at a Declan Rice corner, giving Riccardo Calafiori the chance to nod in from point-blank range at the back post.
While United huffed and puffed, with their expensively-assembled forward line looking a threat at times, they could find no way past Arsenal’s famously miserly defence.
Old Trafford rocked as Mikel Arteta’s runners-up headed to the rebuilding Red Devils in the most eye-catching fixture of the opening weekend.
But Bayindir’s error underlined concerns over the goalkeeping position at Old Trafford, where often unconvincing number one André Onana was absent as he works his way back from a hamstring injury.
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United are a work in progress but summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo looked sharp on their debuts, with Patrick Dorgu hitting a post with a lasered first-half effort.
Arsenal keeper David Raya produced a string of important stops to keep the hosts at bay, with his display helping Arteta’s side to victory.
The atmosphere was as intense as United’s start as they flew out the blocks in the summer sun, with Mbeumo getting an early attempt on goal as the hosts bossed play and the early possession.
But Arsenal would take the sting out of proceedings with just 13 minutes on the clock. Bayindir flapped at Rice’s inswinging corner under pressure from Saliba, with the Turkey international meekly palming on for Calafiori to head over the line.
United’s appeals for a foul fell on deaf ears as Arsenal scored their 31st Premier League goal from a corner since the start of the 2023-24 campaign — 11 more than any other team.
That moment seemed to lead to some of the nervousness within the ground that Amorim referenced ahead of the game, but his side’s refreshed approach and personnel helped lift the mood.
Mbeumo saw a shot deflect wide before Dorgu followed a burst down the left with a fierce shot that hit the outside of the far post.
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Cunha looked like United’s biggest threat and showed tenacity and confidence in the 32nd minute when his rampaging run from his own half led him to burst through Arsenal bodies and get a shot on Raya’s goal.
The goalkeeper comfortably dealt with that attempt and another from distance, but he had to be at his best to get a fingertip on the Brazil international’s low drive from an acute angle as half-time approached.
Arsenal were solid but unspectacular when the second half got under way, with Arteta replacing ineffective debutant Viktor Gyökeres on the hour mark.
The Sweden international had shone under Amorim at Sporting CP and had previously been linked with a move to United, whose fans cheered his substitution.
United’s new frontman Benjamin Sesko was introduced to a huge roar shortly after, offering a first look at their rebuilt front three.
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Cunha continued confidently and Mbeumo was a handful, with an acrobatic attempt soon followed by a header that forced a full stretch save from Raya.
Sesko nodded across the face of goal as the home side continued to knock on the door, but Arsenal dug deep and Rice saw a whipped free-kick deflect narrowly wide at the other end.
United pushed until the end and Cunha saw a penalty claim ignored, but there was no leveller as Arteta’s side started the season with a win as “1-0 to the Arsenal” echoed around the ground.
Information from PA contributed to this report
