Manchester United’s new era under Ruben Amorim began with a painful reminder of old habits, as Arsenal snatched a 1–0 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday in their Premier League season opener.
Despite an active summer of transfer spending, United’s long-standing issues resurfaced: wastefulness in front of goal and vulnerability at set-pieces.
The decisive moment came in the 13th minute when goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to deal with Declan Rice’s corner. His misjudgment allowed Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori to nod home from close range, sealing all three points for Mikel Arteta’s side.
United dominated possession and looked the more adventurous team, with debutants Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha impressing in attack. Cunha forced David Raya into a sharp save, while Mbeumo tested the Arsenal keeper with a glancing header. Patrick Dorgu also struck the post in the first half.
But despite their control, Amorim’s men lacked the finishing edge. Summer signing Benjamin Sesko was introduced after the break but failed to make an impact, while Arsenal’s defensive pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel stood firm.
Arsenal, though largely underwhelming in open play, once again demonstrated their knack for grinding out results and making set-pieces count. With the likes of Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Martin Zubimendi on the bench, Arteta’s deep squad underlined its strength in depth.
For United, it was a familiar story: encouraging performances undermined by a costly lapse at the back. For Arsenal, it was business as usual with efficient, disciplined, and ruthless when it mattered most.