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Arsenal are leading Manchester United in the second half of their Premier League season opener at Old Trafford.
Riccardo Calafiori nodded in on the goal line (13') after Altay Bayindir made a mess of a pinpoint Declan Rice corner delivery.
It was a competitive first half from both sides with United’s Matheus Cunha going closest to an equaliser — he was denied by a fine save from David Raya.
55' Manchester Utd 0-1 Arsenal
How are your Manchester United bingo cards looking? If you had ‘rash Bruno Fernandes challenge’ on yours (which feels likely) then congratulations!
The Portuguese has just clattered into Arsenal defender Gabriel — though he got thrown into the air so high I didn’t catch his number — and he gets a chat from Simon Hooper.
No card though, which was kind.
A first United change soon follows, with Amad into the action in place of Diogo Dalot.
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49' Manchester Utd 0-1 Arsenal
Mason Mount tries to make something happen as Manchester United get into Arsenal’s final third, but his effort is blocked and then the danger is extinguished.
You’d have to put in a good argument to convince me Mount’s presence in attack for United today is actually working.
There are plus points to the rotations but United were still short on chance quality through the first half — 0.59-0.80 in terms of xG (expected goals).
It was a good first-half performance by United. Arsenal struggled with the energy and rotation of Cunha, Mbeumo and Mount.
Cunha in particular grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, driving forwards with the ball.
Mount has produced some real quality, as well as purposeful defensive work.
Let’s see what we get in this second half.
46' Manchester Utd 0-1 Arsenal
The players are back out. Will Benjamin Sesko get his competitive Manchester United debut in this second half?
Maybe — but he’s not out there yet. No changes in personnel from either side after the interval.
United get us going again…
Ruben Amorim made it clear before the game that injury was not the reason for Andre Onana’s omission today.
So I can only imagine the sinking feeling the Manchester United manager got when Altay Bayindir flapped at that early Declan Rice corner.
Of course, Onana is certainly no stranger to a glaring error but it is hard to defend a manager’s decision when the back-up goalkeeper drops a clanger like that on opening day.
It will have only strengthened the shouts for a new No 1 in this part of the north west of England.
The most precious commodity in this sport is — and always will be — goals.
Crucially, Arsenal have one of them and Manchester United don’t.
Mikel Arteta will not be at all happy with his players inside the dressing room; they have been second best all over the pitch and have not really troubled a defence that looked so frail last season.
But they are winning at Old Trafford, something that has never come easy to them.
As the cliche goes, the sign of any good team is that they can win when not at their best — that is exactly what Arsenal are doing here.
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Well, this is new!
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who was particularly out of breath, spoke to Sky Sports on his way into the dressing room at half-time:
💬 “Obviously they have quality, they have really good players up front. I think we let them play a bit too easily through us at times.
“But there is a lot of space when we regain the ball and we’ve counter(attacked) a few times.
“We just need to be a bit more accurate there and we’ll have chances to score more.”
And Arsenal’s players are rated as follows…
Since the start of the 2023-24 season, Arsenal have scored 31 Premier League goals from corners.
That’s at least 11 more than any other side.
Arsenal have also netted the most set-piece goals in the league since the start of the 2021-22 season, when Nicolas Jover came from Manchester City (71).
Liverpool (64) and Manchester City (60) have the next highest tallies in the league.
Lots of fuss about Viktor Gyokeres making his Premier League debut today, but he has been well marshalled by Leny Yoro and mainly Matthijs de Ligt.
At the other end of the pitch, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have unsettled Gabriel and William Saliba in a way that not many other forwards have.
As Michael mentioned in the first half, they are clearly lacking a bit of rhythm in the same frontline, but they have been superb to watch so far.
When on song, there are few better players to watch in the Premier League than Cunha and he has been right at it. Mbeumo, meanwhile, is such an efficient and effective footballer and it surely won’t be long before they combine for a goal.
Here’s how we rate the home players at half-time.
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Say what you want about Mikel Arteta and this Arsenal team, but they are brilliant from attacking corners. And don’t those Manchester United fans know about it.
Three of the last four goals Arsenal have scored against today’s opponents have come from corners, with three different defenders adding the finish touch: Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and now Riccardo Calafiori.
That is the 31st goal they have scored from a corner since the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign, 11 more than the next-best team (Liverpool).
HT: Manchester Utd 0-1 Arsenal
And with the sole minute of added time done, we reach half-time.
Both sides will be happy with elements, but it feels like Manchester United’s performance has been better — despite the fact they are down at the break.
45+1' Manchester Utd 0-1 Arsenal
Good strength from Viktor Gyokeres to win the ball high against the United back line.
But his pass into Bukayo Saka’s path as the winger runs into the box is far too strong.
And that is pretty disappointing from a player who cost so much money.
44' Manchester Utd 0-1 Arsenal
A frustrated Mikel Arteta is repeatedly looking back at his bench, seemingly wanting the players to move the ball quicker.
Quite a fun game has broken out. United haring around up top out of possession, certainly with more purpose and design than they did last season.
It is giving them chances.
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42' Manchester Utd 0-1 Arsenal
Right on cue following Art’s comment, Riccardo Calafiori is turned by Bryan Mbeumo and the subsequent shirt pull earns the first booking of the game off Simon Hooper — and it goes to Arsenal’s goalscorer.
That’s a top save from David Raya. Great athleticism to get down that quickly…
But Arsenal’s backline need to wake up. They were sloppy when the game was goalless, and that hasn’t changed much since taking the lead.
38' Manchester Utd 0-1 Arsenal
For the first time in a while, it feels like a few players are catching their breath.
It gives a little moment to see some patient build-up from Manchester United — and I have to say at this point, you can definitely see improvements in what they are trying to do here compared to last season.
Right on cue, Matheus Cunha breaks down the left before sliding a left-foot shot across David Raya as he slips to the floor.
It’s a stunning save from Raya as he gets down to palm it wide of his far post.
Cunha can’t believe it either.