Both Manchester United and Arsenal face a tricky start to the Premier League, and the pair will meet at Old Trafford on Sunday.
After his move to Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres will come up against his former Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim – a striker the Portuguese manager was keen to sign.
Man United were heavily linked with Gyokeres before he embarked on a new era in north London.
And in an odd turn of events, Man United ended up recruiting Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig instead, who was thought to be Mikel Arteta’s preferred option out of the pair.
Arteta wanted Arsenal to sign Sesko, only for his side to ultimately walk away from a deal owing to the German club’s asking price.
That being said, whether it’s from the start or from the bench, both strikers should face each other at Old Trafford on Sunday.
And when speaking on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand has now predicted the scoreline in that match.
Former Gunners striker Theo Walcott thinks Arsenal will beat United on Sunday – he’s convinced that Gabriel Martinelli will grab a goal on the break for Arteta’s side.
But when it came to Ferdinand’s prediction, he envisioned a draw in the pair’s Premier League opener.
Speaking on the podcast, Ferdinand simply said: “I’m going draw, I’m going to go score draw, 1-1.”
And perhaps to justify Ferdinand’s call, that was the score when the pair met back in March at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes put the home side one nil up, only for Declan Rice to equalise in the second half for Arteta’s side.
In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Arsenal were 2-0 victors at the Emirates Stadium, but that was very early on in the new Amorim era.
As mentioned, Fernandes has often foiled Arsenal’s chances of winning over the years, an exceptional talent who’s proven his commitment to United time and time again.
But owing to the arrival of Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Fernandes now played in a much deeper role.
When they are fully fit and settled, Sesko, Mbeumo and Cunha must be envisioned as the front three – a scary trio for any side to face.
But Sesko’s arrival could be bad news for Kobbie Mainoo for example, who might often find himself on the bench owing to Fernandes playing in a deeper role.
In an ideal world, United would like to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion to possibly sit alongside Fernandes.
And much to Arsenal’s encouragement, this is still a United team that’s very much in transition.
