Arsenal started their Premier League season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The only goal came in the first half. Declan Rice whipped in a corner, United keeper Altay Bayindir missed the ball, and Riccardo Calafiori was quick to react, heading it over the line to give Arsenal the lead.
United tried to fight back and had most of the ball, but they couldn’t score. New signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha looked sharp, with Cunha even hitting the post, but luck was not on their side. Even when Benjamin Sesko came on, the story didn’t change.
Arsenal weren’t at their best in attack, but their solid defence and smart substitutions helped them protect the lead until the final whistle. New boys Viktor Gyökeres and Martin Zubimendi struggled to shine, while subs Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke came on to steady things in the second half.
It was a frustrating night for United, but a perfect start for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who showed they can win even without playing beautifully.
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