Arsenal made the perfect start to their Premier League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, as Riccardo Calafiori’s early header punished a costly error from goalkeeper Altay Bayındır.
The highly anticipated clash saw Arsenal, last season’s runners-up, showcase defensive grit and composure against a Manchester United side that had splashed nearly £200 million on new attacking talent. Yet despite the expensive reinforcements, the Red Devils failed to find the net, leaving new manager Ruben Amorim facing immediate pressure.
The decisive moment came in the 13th minute when Declan Rice’s corner was mishandled by Bayındır, deputizing for the absent Andre Onana. Calafiori reacted quickest, nodding home from close range to silence the home crowd and give Mikel Arteta’s men a vital early lead.
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United’s response was spirited but wasteful. Patrick Dorgu rattled the post with a thunderous effort from distance, while Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha both saw tame strikes comfortably dealt with by Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya, who was in inspired form throughout. Raya later denied Cunha again with a stunning fingertip save that kept Arsenal’s clean sheet intact.
Arsenal, who have endured three straight seasons of finishing second, entered the match under immense pressure to finally deliver a Premier League title for the first time since the famous Invincibles of 2003-04. While new striker Viktor Gyokeres endured a quiet debut and was replaced by Kai Havertz in the second half, the Gunners’ defensive backbone, anchored by Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, ensured the narrow lead stood firm.
Manchester United, meanwhile, introduced Benjamin Sesko from the bench to a warm reception, with fans eager to see their marquee signing after he turned down Newcastle to join the club. However, the Slovenian striker could not break through Arsenal’s disciplined back line. Mbeumo came closest late on with a powerful header, only to be thwarted once again by Raya’s quick reflexes.
The result leaves United frustrated, their familiar struggles in front of goal resurfacing despite heavy investment. For Arsenal, however, the win was a statement of intent as they look to keep pace with Liverpool and Manchester City, both of whom also opened their campaigns with victories.
After the match, Calafiori remained modest despite his match-winning contribution. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “As always, we worked hard on our set pieces, and that showed today. We know there’s still room for improvement, but the confidence we have will push us forward. To compete at this level, we have to excel in every position, and today was a great step.”
Arsenal’s title quest has only just begun, but grinding out a result at Old Trafford in week one sends a clear message. Arteta’s men may not have been flawless, but they showed the resilience and quality needed to finally end their two-decade wait for Premier League glory.
