Manchester United began their Premier League season with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, with Riccardo Calafiori’s 13th-minute header from a corner proving the difference at Old Trafford.
Despite the disappointing result, United produced a good display, dominating possession and territory for long spells of the contest.
The problem, however, was turning that dominance into goals.
United struggled to create enough clear-cut chances to truly test David Raya, who remained largely untroubled in the Arsenal goal, albeit with a few key saves.
It was a familiar story, but one that still came with encouraging signs.
Ruben Amorim will be frustrated not to end the game with at least a point but can be pleased by the intensity and fluidity his side showed.
New signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo stood out in attack, constantly driving United forward and looking like players who can quickly become key figures.
There was also a first appearance for Benjamin Sesko, introduced from the bench in the second half as Amorim searched for a way back into the game.
Although the scoreline didn’t favour United, the performance suggested progress.
Here are five things we learned from their opening-day defeat.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
New Signings Impress
At times last season, Manchester United lacked real potency in attack.
In response, the club invested around £200 million on a new-look front line, aiming to add both goals and excitement in the final third.
While United ended the opening day goalless, there were promising signs from newcomers Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Both consistently drove the team forward and looked dangerous whenever they had the ball, each forcing David Raya into strong saves.
Although the breakthrough never came, Amorim will be encouraged by their impact and will hope that, in the coming weeks, they can start turning lively performances into goals and help United secure important victories.
Defensive Stability
United were impressive at the back against Arsenal, restricting them to very few chances throughout the game.
Aside from the goal, Arsenal rarely created anything clear-cut, with new signing Viktor Gyokeres struggling to make an impact.
At CCB, Matthijs de Ligt stood out with a commanding display, winning most of his duels while also contributing effectively in possession.
On either side of him, Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw flanked him superbly, stepping up to win duels in midfield and driving forward to support attacks.
Ruben Amorim will be encouraged by the defensive resilience shown and will hope his side can build on this solidity while adding more goals at the other end.
Goalkeeping Issues
Although there were plenty of positives to take from the performance, one major question remains: what should Manchester United do about their goalkeeper situation?
With Andre Onana still unavailable, Altay Bayindir started against Arsenal but was at fault for the decisive goal.
From the corner, he failed to command his area, stayed rooted to his line, and then flapped at the ball, leaving Riccardo Calafiori with a simple tap-in.
Goalkeeping remains a concern for United, and with the transfer window still open, the club has reportedly considered alternatives such as Senne Lammens and Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Ruben Amorim now faces a crucial decision, whether to trust his current options between the posts or push for a new signing before the deadline.
Midfield Conundrum
United have been in the market for a midfielder this window, but their search has stalled since Brighton made it clear they would not sell Carlos Baleba.
The need for reinforcements was evident against Arsenal.
Although Casemiro impressed, his replacement Manuel Ugarte struggled.
The Uruguayan was sloppy in possession, gave the ball away on several occasions, and conceded unnecessary fouls as Arsenal looked to slow the game down.
Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo did not feature at all, a surprise given that this season is expected to be crucial for his development.
Amorim will want to address these midfield issues quickly, either by turning to Mainoo more consistently or by securing fresh options before the transfer window closes.
Positives to take forward
Despite the defeat, there are plenty of positives to take from the game.
Last season, United often struggled for points and appeared weak, technically sloppy, and physically outmatched.
While they came away with zero points today, they looked stronger physically and were not overwhelmed by the occasion.
With new signings impressing and the defence holding firm, Ruben Amorim can take encouragement from the performance.
If United can make one or two key additions before the transfer window closes and continue to work hard on the training ground, there is real hope that strong performances will start translating into results, and that the team can have a positive season under Amorim.
