Arsenal headed north to Old Trafford this afternoon, ready to kick off their 2025/26 Premier League campaign against Manchester United. The Gunners will be aiming to start strongly after top title-rivals Liverpool and Manchester City both opened their compaigns with wins.
The Gunners can take encouragement from their recent record against the Red Devils. They are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games against United, having won four of those five encounters. Ruben Amorim’s side, like Mikel Arteta’s, have strengthened signigicantly this summer, meaning it should be a very interesting game at Old Trafford this afternoon, as we see new recruits alongside established squad members fighting for Season Opener honours.
Match Preview: Manchester United v Arsenal in Premier League Season Opener Clash
Without further ado, here is the Starting XI that Mikel Arteta believes can do the business against the Red Devils in today’s Premier League clash:
COYG!
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Got to say, the utd team looks poor. They do not look to have improved much to me. Their midfield is ponderous and their defence looks iffy.
But their attack is very good if all three play.
MOUNT?
And their bench?
Sesko is not starting
I think Cunha will play as CF
Amorim has decent record against Arteta both as Sporting and Utd boss
So, Do you like the look of their team? Are you jealous?🤣
The stage is set. No looking back now.
They have improved a lot with Cunha/ Mbeumo helping the midfield and Sesko
Mount is still in his prime age, so he could replicate his Chelsea form
Yoro could be one of the best CBs in EPL if he doesn’t get injured again
So, you would replace the relative players in our team with them? I know I wouldn’t.
@Gai, I would have preferred Timber or Mosquera. White overlapping runs could leave space at the back for ManU wingers to exploit and he isn’t quick enough.
I saw what Semenyo and Kudus did for their clubs yesterday, hope Matinelli steps up.
A draw won’t be a bad result for Arsenal
They always show up vs Us at Old Trafford though regardless of quality or room. Good attack especially their front 4(Sesko will surely come in) but their gk, defence and midfield are mediocre.
Arsenal is average in this match and Ordegard isn’t creating anything.
Not pretty but it’s a WIN to start of the season
4 CBS at the back could b skinned id say
Arsenal what’s happening?I can’t see Notgaard on the list,good luck boys
Squads too big thats why hes not in the team
Is this our full strength starting 11? I would imagine so with maybe Timber a possible discussion point.
Great looking team, no excuses
All I want to see is quick passing from our team. We got a good team out there it’s now down to tactics. COYG
The double pivot tactics used by Arteta in final pre season game was good actually
Keeping LB at its natural byline side of the pitch.
Rice and Zubimendi interchanging the roles
This will certainly benefits us as because now we have a natural target man in the box
The double pivot tactics used by Arteta in final pre season game was good actually
Keeping LB at its natural byline side of the pitch.
Rice and Zubimendi interchanging the roles
This will certainly benefits us as because now we have a natural target man in the box
We will probably switch between single or double pivot depending on the opponent an game state. Makes us more flexible and unpredictable.
Also make it that Odegaard no longer has to drop back deep everytime to dictate play so he can influence the game closer to goal and roam centrally instead of the right half space. This has a knock on effect on everyone in the forward line.
But if we switch to inverted winger any time between then game theh Calafiori needs to have his passing shoes on
Yeah he is weaker in this aspect compared to Skelly as he tends to take more risky passes. But He can also be a marauding left back but infield instead of on the wing instead of a passing one. He is really good at running through breaking defensive line and is good at shooting.
Where’s Norgard?
Calafiori is NOT a left back and Martinelli’s pre-season form.does not merit a starting place.
We begin this game..therefore..handicapped down our left flank which will.allow United to more easily nullify our threat down the right.
If Madueke was to.be purchased in.preference to.Eze then he should have been a starter today with MLS or Timber playing behind him.
Once again we will see Arteta’s inability to implement change as his undoing.
We cannot afford any slip-ups as we start this Season with a number of difficult fixtures
United should be beaten today but this team.selection does not fill me full of optimism.
But Martinelli was pretty decent in last pre season game compared to previous matches
Really? Because of one cross for the goal? Head down running, wrong decision making. He is a liability
Eze would likely prefer to join Spurs, because he’d become their main left-sided AM
If he joins Arsenal, he’d likely have to rotate with Martinelli and Odegaard
Guehi and he are trying to increase their World Cup chances
He’s been pretty good and I do think that’s our best backline or line up I’d say.
Kiwior not in the squad.
Lack of space, or is he potentially off to pastures new?
No space for Norgaard and Kiwior with the bloated squad, think the only injury we have is Jesus currently but i may be wrong
‘Bloated squad, I don’t think so.
Deep squad in terms of quality, not bloated
Semantics. Squad is currently too big, regardless of how you try and word it
Our left hand side has an interesting dynamic in that Calafiori and Martinelli are really compatible. Whenever Calafiori plays he overlaps which enables Martinelli to play more centrally which leads to better performances.
Skelly and Madueke are also compatible with Madueke as the touchline 1 vs 1 winger and Skelly playing more inverted centrally.
Spot on about the compatible pairs. Martinelli & Calafiori and Skelly & Madueke. These two partnerships don’t just give us depth but also have the potential for changing us games because they pose different threats to opponents.
Spot on kedar
I know it is at the theatre of screams but nothing but a win, is good enough against this rabble!!!!!
I can see their main threat are Mbeumo and Cunha and Fernandes
These 3 are the most danger men in Utd side
Especially Fernandes’s vision and Cunha and Mbeumo’s runs
We are our own danger. They have a shape, we don’t. They have a system, we don’t. They are playing it quick, we don’t. Its more our play and no real shape. Saliba has been shocking!!!!
And dare I say it Martinelli has been awful.
Why do you guys think Man Utd’s defence in bad ?
De Ligt ended last season on an admirable form, Dalot is consistent, Yoro is good
(though I wonder why some keep mentioning his name around possible-best CB in the league – he’s not)
Their attack looks interesting
They finally have good players upfront
those Garnacho – Rashford etc were just pretenders
Let’s go!!!
I can see their main threat are Mbeumo and Cunha and Fernandes
These 3 are the most danger men in Utd side
Especially Fernandes’s vision and Cunha and Mbeumo’s runs
Probably the only dangerous players they have.
We have started very poorly
We are not having the ball at all
All change then Kedar
COYG
Yeah
One set piece and we are in
But I want see more fluent display
Set piece Fc is back🤑
We are looking uncharacteristic flimsy in possession. Very shaky
Boom calafioriiii!!!! Easy goal.
That’s the problem when you play inverted winger
Our left side was completely exposed there
Mbeumo is also elite in those transition moment, knows how to position himself.
Very poor at the moment but we have the lead
It’s great to be one up but Utd look like they will score for sure! We just look a little open and shakey at times.
Yes
We are unable to shut down the Mbeumo and Cunha
They both are cutting through our defence and midfield
We need 2nd goal
There is a goal for Utd in this game sure
We are leading but Arsenal have been shockingly bad. And awful shape.
Our players are not applying themselves maximally to the game. They need to do more
On paper we are looking very strong
Don’t know why we are playing that bad
Need to take off Calafiori now because he will have his 2nd yellow for sure
Awful display and we will be lucky to walk away with even a draw. Midfield is non existent
Ok, so the positive is were 1-0 up at least 😂
This website takes a long time to load nowadays
Before kick-off, someone here described Utd as a “rabble”. Well, things can change over the next 45 minutes, but so far they don’t look much like a rabble to me.
Anyway, at least Arsenal have the lead. The good (goal) and the bad (pointless yellow card) from Calafiori.
Compared to Arsenal they are a rabble. It is our rigid, inverted, inside out tactics that are causing us problems. 352 against us has always troubled Artetas stupid tactics and formation. We made them look far better than they are.
We are playing like finished in on 15th and Utd on 2nd
As much as i hate to say it, we’re not looking that good at all but It is the first game of the season i suppose. We need time to sell as a team again. Even Utd must be wondering how they’ve not scored yet. Overall, some good performances and some quite bad tbh. Let’s hope the second half is much improved..
I think we are playing a bit different and things are still kind of transitioning. ManU is kind of playing our press game and wing play . We seem very hesitant, maybe a sign of adapting to tactical changes. But yes, some players need to bring their A game. Califiori and Martinelli side was surprisingly the better side. Go Gooners, we will finish this game.
The verdict is out there for all to see regarding the first half.
If we are thinking of going all season with Odegaard as the main creative spark, we’re in for a serious problem in attack.
And for Martinelli, the less said the better.
Hope Arteta replaces Calafiori with Timber for the second half. On a yellow and has been been beaten for pace times than I can count. Thanks for the goal though.
Agree about Timber/Calafiori… disagree about Odegaard, he has been our best player so far. Although that’s not saying much. Improvement needed in the second half.
Are you serious that Odegaard played good yesterday and
This interviewing players at half time is absolute 💩 whoever dreamed up this stupid idea needs sacking, totally pointless 🤷♂️. On a more positive note we can’t be that bad in the 2nd half 🤞
“On a more positive note, we can’t be that bad in the 2nd half”. Ooooh, tempting fate … although, hopefully, you’re right.
Pleased with the lead, but we seriously need to do better second half.
Am I the only one who think the ref got some funny calls? That slide on Gab was surely. Yellow to me.
And audacity of Bruno to even complain about that tackle
Utd deserve the goal actually
We are very poor
Utd literally have dominated is today
We are really struggling to block the winger and wingback combo. As a result mbeumo and cunha are getting lot of space and 1 v 1. Saka n Martinelli both late to cover. Fullbacks are 1 v 1 or 2.
Don’t know if it’s a tactical win fr Amorim or our wingers not tracking back enough.
We will be ripped apart by Liverpool’s winger if play like that
I hope Sesko is not scoring against us 🤣🤣
It will be a miracle if Utd don’t score. We’re riding our luck!
Is our luck that good that we can hold more for 25 mins?
I can not believe the DROSS I am seeing.
I’m putting this poor performance down to match fitness and the changes in the starting eleven.
No!! Its down to utds shape and Arsenals. Arteta has not adressed their advantage in midfield. Plus we look like we do not know each other.
I don’t think match fitness is the problem
We are getting for season for last 1 month
And being a professional footballer they should have physical fitness
Utd is more hungry than us from 1st whistle
Not sure why Odegaard is still on? This has been his worst performance yet. Such a shame as he’s one of my faves! 😳
Not only Odegaard, Saka was awful the whole hsmr
Not only Odegaard, Saka was awful the whole game
We’ve been very poor today😒
Odegard picking up where he left off last season – giving the ball away almost every time he gets possession. Our ,captain who is guaranteed to start is a real weak link if his form doesn’t improve
Shockingly poor football and of course Arteta couldn’t be bothered to try change anything. Odergard playing for manu…Rice not much better
We can’t always hope to score from corners.
Our creativity is zero!
Every 2nd ball is being won by Utd
That’s so poor
I wonder whether Arne Slot was available when we appointed Arteta??
Why so poor today
Is it the game and opposition or are we just that bad at the moment
Such a shit display that even Utd’s CB is also attacking us with forward runs
Maybe we were all a transformation with the new signings but man has this been a difficult watch today. I’m actually so frustrated and dissapointed with individual performances that collectively there’s nothing good at all to say. The only good thing to take from the game is the clean sheet after 90 mins.
Amorim just knows how to stop Arteta
Great dig in performance!
A win, just, I don’t know how. Lets put it down to rustyness. I think it was more than that but that was awful to watch and not very £1billion fare at all.
Trust me, it isn’t rustyness.
At least we got three points at Utd. That was hard as a team and a fan!
Any here sees anything better in Madueke than Marinnelli? Gyokeres was surely targeted but Madueke was no good at all. Remember someone named Kudus? I look forward to our team improving, but this game is pure luck.
So much negativity….we won ffs
They say the sign of a good team is when they don’t play well but still get the points. Utd were a lot better than many thought they’d be, and Arsenal certainly weren’t as good – but they got the win.
One thing though, three really stupid and pointless yellow cards for Arsenal – one shirt pulling and two time wasting (yet again). Can some tell Raya, in particular, there’s no point unless you’re in the final couple of minutes at most.
Yeah, we got the result. Hope we only get better from here. Maybe it is something mystical. I will take it that we are the better team.
The yellows are worrying. Our depth looks good , hope we will be ok. But I still think ManU’ defense got it easy today with the ref’s call on every 50-50 ball. Our attack was not in form, that is inexcusable, we need to work on it.
On the yellows, that’s four today, I think. What’s the betting that we’ll pick up a red (on cumulative yellows) before the end of September?
We shouldn’t forget that no team has won the EPL title with more than three reds across a whole season.
All yellows deserved!!!
Good result; not a very good performance. Three valuable points from OT.
Now let’s take it from there
COYG
We did what needed to be done. This was a hard opening game and we walk away with 3 points. Things to work on and i hope we dip into the market again, but we showed the grit needed when we weren’t playing at our free flowing best.
Same paper over the cracks early in the season, then get exposed next spring.
The manager doesn’t have what it takes to sub either Odegaard or Saka no matter how bad they play.
Amorim will be the happier Manager. There are signs there that the strike partnership will click.
1 – 0 at Old Trafford. Could have been a better performance but let’s take the 3 points and on to the next match.
Barely created any chances. Isn’t there a reason pre season games are played? To get you back to your best.
People saying a bad performance, yes it wasn’t pretty but how many times previously have you seen us fold. We dug in, in the second half, fought hard and kept th3 out . First game away at MU 3 points cheer don’t jeer, it’s a fantastic result!
It is what it is. Dodgy performance but 3 points in the bag. We saw these type of performances creep in at the beginning of the year, they carried on into pre-season and now they seem to be persisting. Arteta really needs to do something, an exciting and creative midfielder is what we need.. man, I don’t know why our football is so painful to watch. Anyway, 3 points in!!!
That should have been labelled a preseason game. But hey, it’s one nil to the Arsenal!🥳
Hard 3 points won ,was not pretty at all and probably our best player was Raya ,but first game of the season ,away against Utd cannot complain.
On the match -our midfield looked cooked after 20 mins ,Odegaard needs to be replaced (overhyped)why not drop
In havertz or even nodi to give us abit of pace .
Calfi scored but Utd targeted him
All match and he definitely isn’t the answer going forward ,big gaping holes .
Personally not convinced with the set up but we keep getting told that our manager is one of the best in the world ,and with his wages you would have to agree with those fans .
Did t see it at all today but they must be right .
Yeh, man! Down with Califiori and Martinell. It’s all their fault. The left side really came alive when Skelly and Madouke came on. Please take a break. Man. U., ran over us because our midfield just couldn’t get a grip. Lost too many of the 50/50 balls, and no rhythm in their passing with so many balls being over hit. Zubamendi non existent, Odegaard already looking tired and weary, Rice trying, but a bit slow. So much criticism of Martinell but he at least ran the hard yards to help contain their counter attack in the first half. Our left side was a total shambles once he and Califiori went off. Was Saka any better than Martinelli considering that all our attack was mostly focused in his direction ?Having said that the three points are a relief. Can we improve though? Can’t wait for the Liverpool game to find out.
Nowhere near our best, but I’ll take it. Always sweet beating them 😄
Anyway that’s the sign of a good team right? We did enough to win.
One thing’s for sure though, the refs are still hopeless
How many winnings did we get away to Manchester United while playing good football or dominating them…. Let just take the win and move on… It’s arrogance to think you can always dominate another big team away from home… Do you prefer we dominate or play better but lose the match at the end… Is that not what the complaint was last season