MAN UTD 0, ARSENAL 1
Manchester United took plenty of encouragement from their opening-day defeat by Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Yes, the Reds conceded the softest of goals from a set-piece which is the forte for the Gunners, and they also failed to find the net.
Between the boxes, however, United were much improved as they had Arsenal on the back foot for much of the match.
They created 22 goal attempts – the most they had against Arsenal since they beat them 8-2 in 2011 – and seven on target to the visitors’ three.
Though it was the same old story – head coach Ruben Amorim’s 15th loss in 28 Premier League matches – United played with purpose and passion.
And summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were a threat throughout and look great acquisitions.
Amorim said: “I’m really proud of the guys. They were really brave in everything they did during the game. Congratulations for the performance. We deserved a different result, and we need to move forward to the next one.
“We were more aggressive than last year. We went one against one all the game and we pressed high. We had quality with the ball. Even when the stadium made some sounds, we continued to play the way we play.
“You always feel in the game they can do something not just with the ball but without the ball. I am proud of the game we played. We lost and have things to work on.
“We need to win games but that was completely different to last season.
As for Arsenal’s winner, when keeper Altay Bayindir, looked to be impeded, Amorim said: “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.”
Reds’ captain Bruno Fernandes added: “It’s the first game of the season so we cannot speak about a step forwards.
“We conceded a goal from a set piece early on but from then on Arsenal didn’t create any chances. We created lots of chances and didn’t score so we have to do better next time. We controlled the game well and were good on the ball.
Embed from Getty Images“We created some chance, but we didn’t score so that is the main negative of the day. When you touch the goalkeeper and he can’t jump, that makes it difficult for [Altay] Bayindir. We know in the Premier League they don’t give much.
“Even if they had a meeting with us saying that they will whistle more if players block and don’t look at the ball, but it is more of a saying.”
“We have a big hope for what we want to do and what we want to achieve. There are positive things to look at like scoring goals. I really liked the reaction of the fans at the end. I really appreciate what they did. That was more a sign of hope than what we did during the game.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “It was a big, big result in the first game at Old Trafford, and they are building momentum and new signings.
“To come away with a win is pleasing and gives you confidence and momentum when you are not at the top of your game.
“To come away and find a way to win when we showed resilience to get into that position was pleasing.
“I think before I came here it was 18 or 20 years since we won at Old Trafford but now we come here and win many times and still unsatisfied. We need to be careful against a team who has the speed in the front line to threaten in that way.”
Amorim gave debuts to Cunha and Mbeumo while striker Benjamin Sesko was on the bench.
Arteta named striker Viktor Gyokeres in his starting line-up. There was also a debut for Martin Zubimendi in midfield.
The early promised and optimism of the new season evaporated in the 13th minute when Arsenal stole ahead against the run of play – United were the better side until then.
Declan Rice delivered a cross from the left and Bayindir, under pressure, could only palm the ball into the air and Ricardo Calafiori nodded home at the far post from almost on the goalline.
Arsenal scored 17 Premier League goals from set-pieces last season (excluding penalties), the joint-highest figure in the top-flight with 14 of those from corners.
For United, a familiar failing has again been exposed. They shipped 15 goals from set-pieces last term, with only Wolves and Southampton faring worse. Eleven of those were from corners which was the cause of their downfall yet again as three of Arsenal’s last four goals against United have come from corners.
United’s clearest chance came on the half hour when Patrick Dorgu broke down the left and let fly with a terrific shot which struck the far upright with keeper David Raya well beaten.
Cunha wriggled free on the left, but his angled shot was tipped away by Raya as United kept probing in pursuit of an equaliser.
United made their first change 10 minutes after the restart when Diogo Dalot was replaced by Amad Diallo.
They were soon followed by the introductions of Sesko and Manuel Ugarte for Casemiro and Mason Mount.
United went close with 21 minutes left when an overhead kick from Mbeumo flew narrowly wide.
Mbuemo had another chance, a far-post header from Patrick Dorgu’s cross which Raya flung himself to his left to beat away.
There was another change with 10 minutes left as Luke Shaw made way for Harry Maguire.
Arsenal came close to doubling their lead when Martin Odegaard’s free kick deflected off the defensive wall and flew into the side netting with Bayindir scrambling across his goal.
United pressed for an equaliser late on but it was like the Arsenal of old under George Graham as they were resolute at the back.
And the visitors sang a familiar chant from yesteryear ‘one-nil to the Arsenal’ which was their trademark under Graham.