Arsenal began their Premier League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, with Riccardo Calafiori’s early header the decisive moment in a fiery contest at the Theatre of Dreams.
The visitors struck the killer blow in the 13th minute. Declan Rice’s inswinging corner caused chaos in the United area, with goalkeeper Altay Bayindir only able to palm the ball towards the far post.
Calafiori reacted quickest to nod the ball home from close range and silence the home crowd. It was a scrappy finish, but one that set the tone for a defensive Gunners display.
United had started brightly, with their new-look front line showing promise in the opening exchanges.
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha both looked lively, testing Arsenal’s back four with sharp movement and direct running.
Mbeumo in particular caused early problems, latching onto a Mason Mount pass before forcing David Raya into a comfortable save.
But after Calafiori’s opener, Arsenal grew in confidence and began to dictate possession.
Martin Odegaard and Rice stamped their authority in midfield, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli stretched United’s full-backs.
At the other end, United struggled to carve out clear chances despite plenty of energy.
Cunha went close after weaving into the box, only for Raya to make a smart save low to his left. Patrick Dorgu also struck the post with a thunderous drive from distance, but the hosts couldn’t find a way to level the score before half-time.
Second-half struggles
The second half followed a similar pattern, with United pressing but Arsenal’s defensive organisation holding firm.
Ruben Amorim turned to his bench in search of inspiration. Amad Diallo, Benjamin Sesko and Manuel Ugarte were all introduced, giving United greater attacking thrust.
Amad was particularly dangerous, cutting inside from the right and forcing Raya into action with a low drive.
The biggest chance for the Red Devils arrived on 73 minutes when Cunha surged forward and supplied Dorgu, whose cross picked out Mbeumo.
The Cameroonian forward’s header seemed destined for the corner, but Raya pulled off a superb reflex stop to deny the equaliser.
It was the type of save that underlined why Arsenal had trusted the Spaniard in goal despite fierce competition.
At the other end, Arsenal remained a threat on the break. Noni Madueke, on for Gabriel Martinelli, added pace and directness, while Kai Havertz replaced Viktor Gyokeres to provide fresh legs up front.
Rice almost doubled the lead with a curling free-kick that flew just wide, while Saka saw a late effort blocked brilliantly by Matthijs de Ligt.
The final whistle confirmed Arsenal’s first league victory at Old Trafford since 2020 and extended their unbeaten away run in the Premier League to 15 matches.
For United, it was a frustrating start to the season. Despite flashes of promise from their debutants, they were left ruing missed chances and the brilliance of Raya in the Arsenal goal.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be delighted with the resilience his side showed, particularly with several new faces bedding in.
As for Amorim, the performance offered encouragement, but United must find a sharper cutting edge if they are to keep pace with their rivals this season.
