Before this match, Arsenal had only won 2 out of the last 11 times they traveled to Old Trafford.
Therefore, winning all 3 points on the opening day, at a "location" that is always difficult, is clearly a proud result for Arsenal. Of course, their performance has not been really convincing.
Coach Mikel Arteta called the win a "huge" result. Responding to the media, he emphasized: "Being on the field in the opening match at Old Trafford, in such an atmosphere, against an opponent who is excited with new contracts and excitement around, it is truly a great feeling."
Arsenal have done that by relying on a familiar weapon. Riccardo Calafiori's decisive goal came from a newly designed corner kick. "We don't want to get caught out," Arteta explained.
But the result was no stranger at the time, Arsenal's 31st goal from corners, since the start of the 2023-2024 season. Remember, no other team has scored more than 20 goals in the same period.
Arsenal continue to prove why they are the top team in terms of ability to take advantage of set pieces, while still possessing the best defense in the Premier League.
Despite being 10 points behind Liverpool last season, the Gunners have conceded seven fewer goals. This is a clear demonstration of their tight organization and ability to recover under pressure.
In the victory at Old Trafford, they also had to thank goalkeeper David Raya. The Spanish goalkeeper made seven saves, notably a miraculous reflex against Matheus Cunha's shot in the first half.
But more importantly, few teams in the Premier League can compare with Arsenal in terms of focus, courage and advice in preserving the advantage. Especially in the tense last 20 minutes when Man United kept pressing.
Arsenal's mettle and experience were tested, especially in the first half when new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Cunha from Man United continuously exploited the space and put pressure. However, the "Gunners" knew how to respond, gradually regaining control of the game and proving their maturity in key moments.
Arteta described Arsenal's defensive efforts as "abnormal", but also frankly admitted that their overall performance "has not reached their original level". He emphasized: "We need to improve many things". In fact, his team has not even shown their familiar dominance.
The biggest challenge for Arteta and his students at the moment is the ability to attack. Last season, Arsenal scored only 69, far behind Liverpool's 86.
That was a significant decline from the 2023-2024 season, when they set a club record with 91 goals, after scoring 88 goals in the previous season. Regaining the explosive power in attack will be an important task if The Gunners really want to return to the Premier League throne.
Arsenal have spent £115.5m this summer to strengthen their attack, with Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke. Before the match, Arteta excitedly talked about the qualities that Gyokeres, the striker who scored 97 goals in 102 matches for Sporting, could bring to the team. However, his debut shows that both he and Arsenal have a lot of work to do to adapt.
The Swedish striker has made continuous efforts, showing his physical foundation when facing the M.U defense. But he was substituted in the 60th minute to make way for Kai Havertz, after completing only 4 passes and failing to launch a shot.
Gyokeres will certainly need more support, while building harmony with his new teammates. However, Arsenal's lack of concentration in possession at Old Trafford clearly did not help him in his debut.
Arsenal's pass accuracy rate of just 75% at Old Trafford is Arsenal's lowest in the Premier League since their 2-2 draw with Manchester City last September, and well below their 89% average for the whole season.
Arteta hopes this is just a result of a lack of momentum at the start of the season, but there are still big questions about how Arsenal manage their risk in the game. This was further emphasized when Liverpool and Man City both started the new campaign with resounding victories with a difference of 4 goals.
