Arsenal got off to the perfect start in the Premier League as they held off a rejuvenated Manchester United side at Old Trafford. On an uncomfortable afternoon to start the season away from home, the Gunners scraped through without ever getting close to their best.
Despite a shaky start, Arsenal took the lead through Riccardo Calafiori, who nodded in at the far post after Declan Rice had almost scored directly from a corner. Altay Bayindir flapped at the delivery and was left red-faced as United’s bright opening saw them behind.
In an entertaining game that was worlds away from the draw here earlier in the year, Arsenal found themselves being dragged into an end-to-end battle, rattled by the speed and directness of United’s attacking. They had David Raya to thank for staying ahead as he saved well from close range to deny Matheus Cunha before half-time.
Arteta’s men were somewhat tighter after the break but rarely clicked into full gear. Arsenal found it hard to control United, who planned to thrive in their own chaotic moments created by a new-look attack.
They did manage to get over the line, though. With the sort of grit, dogged-mindedness, and steel that has gotten them so close to major honours in the last three years, Arsenal ran off back to north London with valuable opening day points.
Celebration police
Arsenal’s ability to try and calm matches down and stay together is one of the strongest areas of their game. They have created a bond between the squad and that transmits to the supporters as well.
An energetic and atmosphere-fuelled opening to the game saw Arsenal chasing the ball over their heads as United attempted to spring through the lines, looking towards Bryan Mbeumo constantly. It was unusual to see William Saliba ruffled and Martin Zubimendi knocked off his metronomic stride.
Rice, acting as the cool presence, spoke to his defenders and instructed them to switch on. It appeared to work as Arsenal did then slowly find their feet in the game but Saliba did not bring the composed authority that is so often on show.
Rice and Zubimendi continued to be played through and around, with plenty of discussions going on across the field to remedy matters. When needed, Arsenal did decide to sit in and take the sting out of the game, something Rice is excellent at marshalling, but he would not have been expecting to deliver such strong instructions to his centre-backs so early.
Naughty Gyokeres
It took 26 minutes for Viktor Gyokeres to have his first real impact on the game but it wasn’t what he would have hoped for. As he ran in front of Bayindir, who had the ball in his hands, referee Simon Hooper blew his whistle.
Gyokeres turned around in confusion. Hooper greeted him and explained that stopping Bayindir from getting the ball back into play was now deemed to be a foul, and that he was to stay clear of the goalkeeper in those situations.
For such a battering ram of a player, it is not in Gyokeres’ nature to steer away from opponents, especially not when the ball is there to be had. Unfortunately for Gyokeres it was one of the few moments where he found himself involved in the first half.
There was a dug-out cross to Gabriel Martinelli, who ought to have done better than failing to make proper contact with an attempted bicycle kick, and the trademark channel runs to shove off Luke Shaw and find space, but he was rarely near the ball in the build-up or found in the box either.
In a game that was not lacking in narrative, especially when it came to the two strikers on show (or not, as it happened, with Benjamin Sesko left on the bench), it was not the ideal start. Arsenal and United had both been battling for strikers over the summer with Andrea Berta pivoting towards Gyokeres ahead of Sesko.
This was the chance for one of them to have a perfect introduction to life in the Premier League. It wasn’t to be.
