Arsenal began their Premier League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, courtesy of a well-taken header by Riccardo Calafiori from a Declan Rice corner in the 13th minute. The result marked yet another narrow win for the Gunners at United’s home, continuing a remarkable run of 1-0 away victories in their Premier League history.
Key Moments
- Early Arsenal Strike: After a competitive opening, Arsenal went ahead when United keeper Altay Bayindir failed to clear Rice’s inswinging corner, and Calafiori nodded home from close range under pressure from Saliba.
- United’s Attacking Intent: Manchester United dominated large passages. Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Patrick Dorgu all produced big chances, with Dorgu striking the post and Cunha forcing an excellent save from David Raya in the Arsenal goal.
- Arsenal’s Defensive Grit: Arsenal withstood waves of United pressure—especially in the second half—thanks to composed defending from Saliba and Gabriel. Raya’s fingertip save in the 73rd minute denied Mbeumo’s header to preserve the lead.
- Late Arsenal Debuts: Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal) and Benjamin Sesko (United) made their league debuts but had limited impact, as the game’s only goal came from a defender.
Stats at a Glance
| Man United | Arsenal | |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 22 | 7 |
| On Target | 7 | 3 |
| Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Corners | 12 | 3 |
| Pass Accuracy | 87% | 83% |
Talking Points
- Arsenal have now won six times at Old Trafford in the Premier League, all by 1-0 scorelines—more than any other side’s 100% record by the same margin against another in the league’s history.
- United’s attacking trio of Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko showed promise but lacked the finishing touch to breach Arsenal’s defense, as new boss Ruben Amorim suffered defeat on opening day.
- Arsenal’s set-piece threat continues, scoring their 31st Premier League goal from a corner since the start of 2023/24—11 more than any other side.
- David Raya stood tall, making key saves to preserve Arsenal’s advantage during United’s second-half surge.
Final Thoughts
It was a match full of energy and drama but ultimately decided by steel at the back and brilliance from a set play. Arsenal leave Manchester with a perfect start, while United will rue missed chances in a game they arguably dominated for much of the night.