Arsenal began their 2025–26 Premier League campaign with a 1–0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, a tight encounter settled by a corner headed in by defender Riccardo Calafiori. United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was at fault for the goal, but manager Ruben Amorim defended his keeper after the match.
The game was cagey and physical, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitting his side “were clearly not at our best” but praising the result: “We came here away and won which is a big result.” United recorded plenty of activity in the final third but could not convert chances into goals. New signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha finished as the home side’s highest-rated performers.
Arsenal’s big-money recruit Viktor Gyökeres, signed for around £64m, struggled to influence the game — failing to register a single shot — and had a subdued debut. Despite that, Calafiori’s set-piece strike proved decisive and allowed Arsenal to take all three points.
Amorim insisted his team had shown superiority at times, saying, “It was really hard because I think we showed that we were the better team today. We played better than Arsenal.” The narrow scoreline, though, leaves plenty to work on for both sides as the new season gets under way.
