Manchester United’s 2025–26 Premier League season got off to the worst possible start in terms of the result, but manager Ruben Amorim will take away plenty of positives from his side’s narrow 1-0 defeat to rivals Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Despite Arsenal being the pre-match favourites, it was Manchester United who started the game with incredible energy and intensity, pressing high up the pitch and causing the Gunners’ defence numerous problems in the opening exchanges. New attacking signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were particularly lively and looked like huge upgrades on last season’s options.
However, all of their positive early work was undone by a single, costly defensive error in the 13th minute. Following a well-delivered corner from Declan Rice, goalkeeper Altay Bayındır made a weak attempt to punch the ball clear. His tame flick only succeeded in pushing the ball onto the head of Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori, who gratefully nodded home from a yard out to give the visitors the lead against the run of play.
United continued to push for an equaliser for the remainder of the match. Both Cunha and Mbeumo had excellent chances to score but were repeatedly denied by a sensational performance from Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, who was deservedly named the man of the match.
In the second half, manager Ruben Amorim handed a much-anticipated debut to blockbuster new striker Benjamin Šeško. His introduction lifted the crowd’s energy, but even he could not find a way past the inspired Raya and Arsenal’s resolute central defensive partnership of Saliba and Gabriel.
Ultimately, while the defeat is a deeply frustrating way to begin the new era, Ruben Amorim will be encouraged by the promising and dynamic performances of his new attacking trio. For Arsenal, it was far from a dominant performance, but it’s a gritty and vital three points to kickstart their title challenge.