Manchester United have spent up to 200 million pounds to strengthen their attack, but if Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his colleagues do not invest more in the goalkeeper position, the results on the pitch will hardly improve.
Man United's performance against Arsenal showed a positive signal, enough for coach Ruben Amorim to hope that they will not repeat the disappointment of last season. It has been a long time since fans have seen the "Red Devils" truly dominate one of the "big guys" of the Premier League.
Despite their impressive performance, Man United were still helpless in scoring. New signings Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko - who were brought on in the second half - were all unable to penetrate the opponent's net. This situation is completely understandable when facing a solid defensive team like Arsenal.
"Man United have really changed a lot. We created some chances but didn't score, that's the main minus for today.
However, Man United have high hopes for what we want to do and what the whole team wants to achieve. There are positive things to aim for, such as scoring goals.
I really like the fans' reaction at the end of the match. I really appreciate what the fans have encouraged the whole team. It is a sign of more hope than what we have done throughout the match" - captain Bruno Fernandes said.
However, the unforgivable thing was the goal that Man United gave themselves to their opponents. And Altay Bayindir was the factor. The Turkish goalkeeper was chosen instead of Andre Onana - who is still healthy but was left out of the squad. Bayindir made a mistake in the 13th minute corner kick, leading to Arsenal's only goal.
This is not the first time Bayindir has shown weakness in set pieces. He had previously conceded a similar goal against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup in the 2024-2025 season. It seems that this is a long-term problem that Man United have not solved in the past summer.
Meanwhile, Onana, after two seasons at Old Trafford, is still unlikely to become the number one goalkeeper. Amorim's decision to leave him out and let Bayindir start seems to have been a message to the club's board. The No. 1 position in M.U's goal is still an urgent problem that has not been resolved.
The coaching staff's decision became costly as the "Red Devils" started the Premier League season with a defeat, in a campaign in which Amorim needed the team to break through from the start to reduce pressure. Obviously, they still need to strengthen their attack, as M.U scored only 44 goals last season - the lowest tally among teams not relegated.
However, matches against big opponents are often decided by decisive moments. And Bayindir created an opportunity for Riccardo Calafiori to score the only goal. Instead of clearing the ball safely, the Turkish goalkeeper let the Arsenal defender guess his intentions and take advantage of scoring.
Man United have received praise for overcoming opponents like Newcastle in recruiting players. So they do not consider bringing in a new goalkeeper before the season starts?
This is a worrying blind spot for "Red Devils" fans. They still have two weeks to find a solution before the transfer window closes, but time is running out.
If Bayindir or Onana continue to make mistakes, Man United could fall behind right from the first rounds.
"I am satisfied with the current 3 goalkeepers. Bayindir chose to jostle instead of catching the ball, and he was pushed away. He should have used his hand to control the situation, but he chose wrong. However, I still believe in him.
I'm not an Onana. Simply put, he just came back, not has enough tempo. Meanwhile, Tom Heaton and Bayindir did very well in the preparation phase," Amorim said.
