Manchester United

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The enthusiastic applause from the home fans that followed initial disappointment, at the end of six minutes of injury time that did not bring the equaliser they craved, told its own story about Manchester United's performance.

They recorded 20 shots in a Premier League game against Arsenal for the first time since August 2011.

On that occasion, they scored eight times. This time, there was nothing.

Ruben Amorim spent most of last season grumbling about not taking opportunities. Yet this didn't seem like one of those days. Two-thirds of his new £200m strikeforce started the game - and Matheus Cunha, who is clearly going to be a crowd favourite because of the fight he shows in every moment, and Bryan Mbeumo were excellent.

Casemiro's passing range was superb. Patrick Dorgu was outstanding at left wing-back and Matthijs de Ligt a rock in central defence.

But they conceded far too easily.

It is easy to imagine United goalkeeping great Peter Schmeichel just barging William Saliba out of the way once Declan Rice's pinpoint corner was heading under the crossbar. Edwin van der Sar was far too cute to be caught out so easily.

Altay Bayindir ended up in a position from which he could have no influence. And Amorim, and Andre Onana, who was at Old Trafford for the game, would only watch in despair.

In the brutal world of professional sport, results mask everything.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United lost 0-1 at home to Arsenal in their opening Premier League match on Sunday and boss Ruben Amorim believes his side were 'the better team' but need to focus if they want to win matches.

"We deserved more and we were the better team, that is clear but in the end we lost," Amorim told BBC Match of the Day.

"We need to work on the things, we need to improve. We need to defend set pieces. We did a lot things right but there are a lot of things, without seeing the video, that we need to work on. I am really proud of my players.

"We were more aggressive and brave. In certain moments I think Bryan [Mbeumo] and [Matheus] Cunha helped a lot. We stuck to the plan even when the stadium is nervous, we continued to play the way we played and that will help us in the future.

"They [the fans] want that feeling again. We go to Old Trafford and we are not going to get bored. We need to win more than last season but they want to see something and feel something.

On Cunha and Mbeumo debuts: "Everybody can understand they are very good players for that position. It didn't need a lot work to feel that is their position.

Speaking to Sky Sports about the Arsenal goal, he added: "Sometimes it happened last year. It's not playing the ball. I understand we want goals but when you are touching the goalkeeper, sometimes you are pushing and you don't have more hands to go for the ball.

"We need to be stronger. We are not changing the rules, we have to adapt to the rules. Today I think we are the better team.

"We have players to win any game of the Premier League. We need to focus and forget about the noise. It doesn't matter who is playing, we want to win games."

Image source, Getty Images

• Manchester United have now lost their opening Premier League home game in three of the last six seasons (W3), having only lost their first match at Old Trafford twice in their first 28 campaigns in the competition (W21 D5).

• Moreover, Ruben Amorim suffered his 15th defeat in what was his 28th Premier League game as United manager (W7 D6). This is the fastest a manager has reached 15 defeats in the competition, without taking charge of a newly promoted team in that period, since Paul Hart with Portsmouth in 2009 (27 games).

• Since the beginning of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign, Manchester United have conceded the most goals from corners in the competition (23).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Man Utd's performance

What did you make of Arsenal's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Ruben Amorim has given debuts to Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo while striker Benjamin Sesko is on the bench.

Manchester United XI: Bayindir, De Light, Yoro, Shaw, Dalot, Fernandes, Casemiro, Dorgu, Mount, Mbeumo, Cunha

Subs: Heaton, Maguire, Zirkzee, Amad, Ugarte, Heaven, Sesko, Fredricson, Mainoo

Mikel Arteta has kept fans happy and named striker Viktor Gyokeres in his starting line-up. There is also a debut for Martin Zubimendi in midfield.

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Merino, Nwaneri, Madueke, Havertz, Lewis-Skelly, Timber, Trossard

Three matches make up Sunday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Chelsea v Crystal Palace - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v Brentford - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Manchester United v Arsenal (16:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction from the 14:00 games here

And get Man Utd v Arsenal here

What a great game this is to start the season with. I'm genuinely excited about Manchester United's new signings, especially Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha - we have already seen just how good they are in the Premier League.

I can't claim to have an incredible knowledge on EVERY player so I must admit I have seen less of United's new striker Benjamin Sesko, but he seems a player with a lot of potential and his arrival surely spells the end for Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford.

Arsenal have a new centre-forward too of course, and United boss Ruben Amorim knows all about Viktor Gyokeres after their time together at Sporting.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Gyokeres links up with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, and how quickly they can develop an understanding.

Add in how there is always needle in this match and that a win would be huge for either side - there is a lot to look forward to.

It is going to be close but although I feel really positively about United this season, I think they will lose this and Gyokeres might just have the final say against his old manager.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United and Arsenal have each spent almost £200m over the summer, including the marquee signings of Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, both of whom could make their competitive debuts when the sides meet at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Gunners narrowed their hunt for a striker down to a choice between the two players, according to BBC Sport's Alex Howell, eventually prioritising Gyokeres, who cost an initial £54.8m from Sporting.

The Swede had also been linked with a move to the Red Devils, where he would have been reunited with former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim.

But with Gyokeres heading to north London, United turned their attention to Sesko, beating Newcastle to his signature for an initial £66.3m from RB Leipzig.

Sesko only trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Sunday so it remains to be seen whether he is ready to begin the game against the Gunners.

Gyokeres, meanwhile, featured in three pre-season friendlies, scoring his first goal in last weekend's 3-0 win against Athletic Bilbao, and is likely to make his Premier League bow as a starter. Should he score, he would become the first player to mark his debut in the competition with a goal away to United since Paolo Wanchope for Derby in 1997.

Time will tell who proves the most astute signing. Gyokeres is the more prolific, netting 68 times in 66 league appearances in two seasons at Sporting. While he is untested in one of the top five European leagues, the 27-year-old is already at his peak, which should suit the Gunners.

After three consecutive second-placed finishes, and with a squad boasting formidable depth in defence and midfield, Arsenal don't need a striker who may take several years to mature into the finished article. The priority is a player who can hit the ground running and help the club claim a first league title since 2004.

Sesko has more room for growth and – given his unusual combination of height and pace – arguably a higher ceiling. The 22-year-old, who netted 27 times in 64 Bundesliga appearances, overperformed his expected goals tally by 9.4 during his two seasons in Germany.

That was the league's second best figure, behind Harry Kane, and an early sign Sesko could prove to be an elite finisher.

We have looked into the age profile of Manchester United's players for the 2025-26 season and recorded what percentage of minutes each of them played last campaign.

For the purpose of this exercise, we have deemed those under 24 as youth, between 24 and 30 as in their peak years and anyone over 30 to be a veteran.

The green represents new signings, who naturally did not play, red are those that have since left the club and yellow are all those that remain.

The dots spread around the graphic suggests a squad that has been pieced together without any coherent strategy with regards to age or profile.

In some ways, its indicative of the inconsistent and somewhat chaotic nature of Amorim's tenure at United so far.

Only four players featured in more then 75% of United's minutes last season, as a result of injuries and the United boss' difficulties in landing on a best starting XI.

If they are to improve on a terrible 2024-2025 season, then Amorim will need to find a consistent line-up, as well as integrate new signings into a team that fits his style of play.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

One of the most fascinating elements of my extended chat with Ruben Amorim in the United States this summer was his admission that he set off for games last season fearing Manchester United would struggle.

Given Amorim has promised United fans his side's performances and results will be better this season – admittedly they could hardly be worse – I was intrigued to know his feelings ahead of Sunday's Old Trafford encounter with Arsenal.

It was not an unqualified response. Amorim could have said it will definitely be better - but he didn't.

He also referred to "four weeks" as the time he has had to work with his squad, when it is actually six – for the majority.

But overall Amorim gave the impression of someone who is in a far better place when it comes to managing his group of players than he was during his tortuous bedding-in process.

"It is hard to know because we cannot change everything in four weeks but we are better," he said. "I know that we are training harder, are training better and are more prepared to cope with the demands of the game.

"Step by step we are going to be a better team. I am more confident."

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Old Trafford (kick-off 16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Amorim confirmed that Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui are both out for Sunday's game. However, Joshua Zirkzee and Andre Onana have recovered and "are options" for the match.

• On if new signing Benjamin Sesko is ready to play: "We didn't have lot of time, but he is ready. Physically he is ready, and that is big component in our league. He is smart. He is a guy that is thinking. He spent all afternoon working on his fitness, so he is ready to play and we will see."

• He added: "I am very happy [with him]. He has great potential. He can play different types of football. He is going to feel the Premier League is very aggressive but he will learn and has great potential. I can see him being a striker for United for lots of years. That is why we have paid so much money for a striker that can have history in this club."

• The United boss said a "return to Europe" is a target for them this season, but they are "going to have to fight a lot" and all they can focus on now is "to improve game by game".

• Asked about the future of forward Rasmus Hojlund, he responded: "He is one more option. We are focused on this game and we will see. Rasmus is still our player."

• On how confident he is with what his team will look like this campaign: "It is hard to know. We can't change everything in four weeks, but we are better. We are training harder and better and know we can cope with the demands of the game. We have new players and we need to understand what they can do in the moment. I am more confident in this moment."

• Amorim feels it is "a good thing for Bruno [Fernandes] to stay in one position" and added: "I want Bruno near the ball and that is really important for our team, but sometimes we need Bruno near the goal. We will try to arrange game by game the best players in the best positions."

• He is "happy" with the players he has and feels they can "cope" despite being light in midfield positions.

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Man Utd v Arsenal on Sunday

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

There has been a lot of talk about Manchester United's interest in Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba – and just as much around Brighton's insistence the 21-year-old is not for sale.

Whether a deal happens or not, the fact United have not moved to quell the discussion suggests the interest is genuine and that, despite the assurances he is happy with his squad, head coach Ruben Amorim knows there is a flaw that needs addressing.

And if they are keen on Baleba, do United have a back-up option?

They have been linked with Sporting skipper Morten Hjulmand, someone Amorim knows very well from their time working together in Portugal.

Someone I have spoken to with an understanding of Hjulmand's situation believes the 26-year-old Denmark midfielder will move this summer.

United do need to start selling players but I am guessing that if they exhaust their inquiries for Baleba, their sights may turn to Lisbon.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester United talisman Wayne Rooney has lauded the club's recruitment this summer, highlighting Matheus Cunha in particular.

Speaking on the BBC's The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain praised the way the club and head coach Ruben Amorim have gone about changing the attack and believes it will make a big difference.

United have revamped their forward line with Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko for a cost in excess of £200 million.

"They had to change the attack," Rooney said. "The attacking players looked like they had lost a lot of confidence and some looked like they didn't want to be there.

"Fair play to Ruben Amorim because he has dealt with that and he is trying to move all those players on. The attacking players they have brought in will make a big difference.

"Cunha is exactly what Manchester United need. They need someone with a bit of character. I still speak to people there and everyone has been really pleased with how he is settling in. He has a voice in there, which is what they need.

"When you have players who have that bit of edge, the other players who haven't got that follow it and it maybe brings more out of them players as well.

"Cunha is a really good signing from that point of view and then there is his ability on top of that as well."

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Manchester United are lining up a £50m deal for Sporting and Denmark midfielder Morten Hjulmand, 26, if they miss out on Brighton's 21-year-old Cameroon international Carlos Baleba. (Sun), external

Meanwhile, Fulham are showing interest in United striker Rasmus Hojlund, with AC Milan also pursuing a deal for the 22-year-old. (Mail), external

Finally, Chelsea are making progress in their efforts to sign Alejandro Garnacho and believe £35m is a fair price for the Argentina winger. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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