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Manchester United vs. Arsenal Preview: Amorim vs Arteta in the first thriller of the season

Photo of Nicky Nicky16/08/2025 - 06:35 am
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Matheus Cunha and Diogo Dalot of Manchester United react during the penalty shootout during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and ACF Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 09, 2025 in Manchester, England.
(Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

The Premier League season has kicked-off with Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Bournemouth but everyone’s eyes are set for Sunday. For the first big clash of the season, Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United go head-to-head with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in more than just match one.

Once again, the grass feels sharper, kits look fresh, and at Old Trafford the energy’s buzzy. It’s a loaded moment. This is a chance for United to wipe the slate clean after a 15th-place finish, and for Arsenal to push past those near-misses and chase the top. Let’s unpack what’s to come.

A Crunch of Numbers: Stats That Matter

Numbers don’t lie. Here’s a few stat-rich scribbles that colour the canvas:

  • Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 14 Premier League away games, seven wins, seven draws, an impressive stretch launched in November.
  • The Opta simulations tip Arsenal to win 46.3% of match-ups
  • Head-to-head lore: over 244 meetings, United have 99 wins, Arsenal 90, and 55 draws. Recent history? Arsenal have lost just once in their last eight clashes.
  • United’s last season was rough – finishing rock-bottom for them at 15th, though they did reach the Europa League final.
  • Arsenal, by contrast, have placed second three seasons running, supercharging with almost £200 million in signings.

The Team News Rundown

Manchester United approach the game with a few key fitness updates that could shape their starting XI. Benjamin Sesko is fit again and pushing for inclusion from the outset, although it will ultimately come down to whether Ruben Amorim opts to throw him straight into the action or ease him back in. André Onana is in line to return between the posts, offering stability at the back, yet Lisandro Martínez remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from injury.

Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui are both carrying knocks and are unlikely to feature, which could force some reshuffling. Amorim is likely to set his side up in a 3-4-3 or a variation thereof, with the much-talked-about “Flying-V” shape in attack: Sesko through the centre, supported by the pace and creativity of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo on either flank.

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game during the Premier League match at the King Power Stadium, Leicester. Picture date: Sunday March 16, 2025.
(Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)

Arsenal arrive with their own blend of fresh faces and absentees. Viktor Gyökeres is poised to make his Premier League debut and is expected to spearhead the attack, bringing physical presence and direct running. New signing Martín Zubimendi is fit, settled, and ready to anchor the midfield, adding balance to Mikel Arteta’s structure.

However, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus are both sidelined through injury, limiting attacking rotation. Martin Ødegaard keeps the captain’s armband and will orchestrate from midfield as the Gunners maintain their tried-and-tested 4-3-3 system, with Gyökeres flanked by Bukayo Saka on the right and Noni Madueke on the left in what promises to be a dynamic forward line.

Busy Transfer Windows

Manchester United’s summer business has been spectacular, especially considering their 15th place finish. Bryan Mbeumo’s arrival from Brentford offers pace, pressing, and, most importantly, goals. Up front, Matheus Cunha’s signing from Wolves gives United another mobile, technically gifted forward to interplay with the new arrival Sesko and stretch defences.

Young Paraguayan defender Diego León has been brought in as one for both the present and the future, adding composure and versatility at the back. There’s still work to do before the window shuts, and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba is high on the shortlist as a dynamic midfield option who could add ball-carrying thrust and pressing energy.

Arsenal’s summer has been a mix of headline additions and shrewd depth signings to bolster an already strong squad. Viktor Gyökeres’ arrival from Sporting instantly changes the profile of their attack, giving Mikel Arteta a physical, goal-scoring focal point. In defence, young Colombian Cristhian Mosquera joined from Valencia, while Kepa Arrizabalaga has arrived to add experience and reliable cover in goal.

HONG KONG, CHINA – JULY 30: Viktor Gyokeres (L), Martin Odegaard (C) and Ben White (R) of Arsenal look on during the Arsenal Open Training Session: Pre-Season Tour at Kai Tak Stadium on July 30, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Noni Madueke joins Kepa in moving from West to North London and Martín Zubimendi’s presence in midfield offers balance alongside Declan Rice and has Gunners seriously excited.

Arsenal are still monitoring potential late moves for extra attacking spark. Rodrygo remains an ambitious target, while Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze is seen as a creative wildcard who could slot into multiple roles. With Trossard and Jesus sidelined, that final attacking signing could make all the difference in sustaining their title push.

Amorim vs Arteta

Amorim’s setup feels energetic with a high-energy block, pressing, vertical bursts. That “Flying-V” is a visual cue that United mean business in attack. It’s athletic, it’s bold, it’s high-risk/high-reward.

Arteta’s side, meanwhile, rides stylistic maturity: fluid midfield rhythms, that clinical edge born of years pressing close yet building smarter. Zubimendi adds coating to Ødegaard’s creativity.

Key Players to Watch

For United, Bruno Fernandes remains the heartbeat of their midfield and the chief architect of transitions. Operating at the pivot between creativity and control, he thrives on finding pockets of space and threading passes that can open up defences in an instant.

Within Amorim’s fluid shape, Fernandes will be tasked with linking the press to the attack, dictating tempo when United have the ball and sparking counters when they win it back. His recent history against Arsenal only underlines his importance. Back in March, he dominated the midfield battle at OT, capping his performance with a beautifully struck free kick in a 1-1 draw. He scored a beautiful goal the game before in the FA Cup at the Emirates, too.

For Arsenal, Viktor Gyökeres steps into the Premier League spotlight with a weighty reputation and a record to match, having plundered 54 goals last season, partially under Amorim’s watch at Sporting. He arrives not just as a finisher but as a forward capable of pinning defenders, creating space for those around him, and turning half-chances into decisive moments.

Arteta will want him to integrate quickly, providing both a physical focal point and a relentless runner to stretch United’s back line. Whether his debut is a lesson in patient adaptation or an immediate showcase of explosive power, Gyökeres carries the potential to shape Arsenal’s attacking rhythm from the very first whistle.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Viktor Gyökeres of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Athletic Club at Emirates Stadium on August 09, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Great Expectations

For Manchester United, the expectation is straightforward: show clear improvement. Amorim now has had a full pre-season to implement his tactical approach, and while an immediate title challenge is unlikely, closing the gap on the league’s top sides is essential. A stronger, more cohesive style, better game management, and qualification to Europe would mark success in what can be considered year one.

For Arsenal, the outlook is sharper and more demanding. They are firmly in win-now mode, with the squad depth, tactical clarity, and recent experience to push for silverware on multiple fronts. The pressure is on Arteta to convert potential into trophies, and anything short of a sustained title challenge will be seen as falling short.

A Massive Opener

What we’ve got here is a loaded kickoff. Not just pen-and-paper tactics, but seasons in tension. United: reboot, re-energise, reassure. Arsenal: deliver, claim crown, shake off second-place gravity.

The only thing we can say for sure: this won’t feel like a sandbox first. It’s more like a sprint out of the blocks, then a tussle, and maybe a splash of creative brilliance. Come full whistle, we’ll know more but for now, the story’s poised, engines snarling, ready to launch.

By Nicky Helfgott – NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter)

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Photo of Nicky Nicky16/08/2025 - 06:35 am

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