AFCON 2025
Manchester United began their Premier League campaign with a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday evening.
The decisive moment arrived in the 13th minute when Riccardo Calafiori punished slack defending, rising unmarked to meet Declan Rice’s corner and nodding beyond Altay Bayindir.
From that point on, United controlled possession and carved out several opportunities but lacked the finishing touch. Debutants Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo brought energy and movement in the final third, while Patrick Dorgu struck the woodwork in the first half.
Cunha also had a strong penalty appeal waved away, adding to the home side’s frustration. Despite registering 22 attempts, seven on target, Ruben Amorim’s side could not find a way past David Raya, who delivered a superb goalkeeping display to secure Arsenal’s clean sheet.
After the final whistle, Amorim acknowledged the disappointment but stressed the positives in his team’s attacking intent, insisting that “we were not boring.”
For Mikel Arteta, however, the focus was on the resilience of his side, describing the victory as a “massive win” earned in one of the Premier League’s most testing environments.
