Calafiori Becomes the Hero, Gyökeres Draws Criticism

The opening match of the 2025/26 Premier League season immediately brought together two classic rivals, Manchester United and Arsenal, at Old Trafford. The match ended with a narrow 1-0 victory for Arsenal thanks to Riccardo Calafiori’s solitary goal in the first half. The new Italian defender scored in the 13th minute after capitalizing on a mistake by United goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir, in anticipating a set-piece situation.

This quick goal was crucial for Arsenal, who then managed to maintain their lead until the end of the match. Although United dominated the game with several dangerous chances, they could not penetrate the Gunners’ tight defense. This victory allowed Arsenal to open the season with a full three points and put early pressure on Ruben Amorim’s team. (The Guardian, 17 August)

United’s Dominance Without a Goal

In terms of play, Manchester United actually controlled more of the game. Statistics show they had 61 percent possession and unleashed 22 shots, but only five were on target. The classic problem in the attacking line was evident again: poor finishing wasted all opportunities, even though Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes created several dangerous chances.

Tactical analysis suggests that United successfully pressed Arsenal consistently, but the tight defense of the away team frustrated them. This dominance without results also extended United’s poor record of often failing to convert aggressive play into victories. (The Busby Babe, 17 August)

Arsenal’s “Forcefield Defence”

The key to Arsenal’s victory at Old Trafford was not only Calafiori’s quick goal but also the resilience of their backline. English media even described the Gunners’ defense as a “forcefield defense” because it was able to nullify almost all of Manchester United’s attacks.

William Saliba was solid at the heart of the defense with full dominance in aerial duels. Meanwhile, Riccardo Calafiori not only scored the winning goal but also showed high discipline in defending his area. This solid performance was complemented by David Raya, who made several important saves to thwart chances from Marcus Rashford and Matheus Cunha. It was this tight defense that ultimately allowed Arsenal to go home with a full three points. (The Sun , 17 August)

Minimal Impact Debut for New MU Signings

Manchester United fielded several new players in the opening match of the season, such as Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Šeško. However, their contributions were not yet optimal. Cunha and Mbeumo were quite active and tried to create space, but they were unable to make a significant difference in the attacking third.

High hopes were placed on Šeško when he came on in the second half, but the young Slovenian striker had minimal touches and failed to be the answer to United’s blunt attack. This situation put the spotlight back on Ruben Amorim. As the new coach, he is demanded to quickly find the right formula to make his squad sharper in capitalizing on opportunities.

Viktor Gyökeres and a Disappointing Debut

From the Arsenal camp, the spotlight also fell on Viktor Gyökeres, the striker who was signed for a high transfer fee in the summer transfer window. Unfortunately, his Premier League debut drew much criticism. Gyökeres did not take a single shot on goal and only recorded four successful passes before being substituted.

Several pundits believe his performance was far below expectations, especially when compared to his reputation while playing for Sporting CP in the Portuguese League. Some analysts even believe that Gyökeres seemed to struggle to adapt to the fast tempo of the Premier League and the intense playing style implemented by Mikel Arteta. (TalkSport , 17 August)

Nevertheless, Arteta will likely still need time to truly integrate Gyökeres into Arsenal’s system. With the proven sharpness of Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka, Arsenal is not entirely dependent on the Swedish striker at the start of the season.

Set-Piece Tactics and New Rules

Another interesting aspect was how Arsenal utilized the new Premier League rule regarding the eight-second time limit for goalkeepers during goal-kicks. Several times, Arsenal players tried to pressure Bayindir into losing the ball and earning a corner. This tactic is in line with Arsenal’s impressive record of scoring more than 30 goals from corner situations since the 2023/24 season. (The Sun, 17 August)

Match Statistics

• Final Score: Manchester United 0–1 Arsenal
• Possession: MU 61% – Arsenal 39%
• Shots: MU 22 – Arsenal 7
• On target: MU 5 – Arsenal 3
• Goal: Riccardo Calafiori (13’)

The Manchester United vs. Arsenal match at Old Trafford presented a classic drama: the home team dominated, but the away team was more effective. Arsenal capitalized on one golden opportunity to secure the victory, while United paid dearly for their poor finishing.

Viktor Gyökeres’ debut added another interesting story, where the player expected to be Arsenal’s new weapon had a disappointing performance. However, this victory confirmed that Arsenal has enough squad depth to compete at the top. Meanwhile, Manchester United still has major homework to improve their attacking line if they want to return to the championship path.