Manchester United are pulling out all the stops to ensure they’re in peak form for their Premier League curtain-raiser against Arsenal, with plans afoot for a behind-closed-doors friendly aimed at giving two key players some much-needed game time.
United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been absent from recent pre-season friendlies as he battles back to full fitness. The squad are also yet to play alongside new recruit Benjamin Sesko, who was officially unveiled as a Red Devil over the weekend following his transfer from RB Leipzig.
As per The Times, United are considering hosting a friendly at their Carrington training ground this week. The identity of the opposition has not yet been decided, but they’re likely to take on local opposition.
Should Onana not recover in time for the Arsenal clash, Altay Bayindir could be called upon for just his fifth Premier League outing in his third season with United. The Turkey international has previous experience against the Gunners, having saved a spot-kick from Kai Havertz in last season’s FA Cup penalty shoot-out.
Sesko, on the other hand, sat out Leipzig’s friendly against Atalanta on August 2 and didn’t join his new team-mates in time for the Fiorentina match on Saturday. Despite his absence, United triumphed in the friendly, clinching victory on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Amorim has expressed his delight at United’s latest acquisition. Speaking to club media, he said: “He has the characteristics that we needed. Ben is a player – with all the information that we have – that we need to stop the guy from working, not the opposite!
“So that is also important. He’s really young. He’s good in the air, he’s good at running the channels, good on the ball. I think he has great potential. I think he can improve a lot and, for sure, he is going to feel at home in our club. He has the right character to be in this group, so I’m really happy to have him.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal also celebrated a victory over the weekend, clinching the Emirates Cup with a 3-0 win against Athletic Club. New striker Viktor Gyokeres made his mark by scoring his first goal for the Gunners.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Gyokeres, saying: “Well I think his goals, his threat, I think he pins both centre backs, he’s a player that when you’re living with a space, one against one, he’s going to destroy you. So he’s going to create a lot of space as well for us and yeah, the moment that in any situation there is a player there that can score a goal.”
