Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal have received a timely boost ahead of their 2025/26 Premier League opener against Manchester United, with The Telegraph reporting that United’s first-choice goalkeeper, André Onana, is set to miss the highly anticipated clash due to a hamstring injury.
The Cameroon international is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks after sustaining the injury during pre-season training at United’s Carrington base. The setback has ruled him out of the club’s summer tour of the United States and places his return date around mid-to-late September, well after the opening weekend of the league campaign.
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Onana’s absence leaves United manager Ruben Amorim facing a goalkeeping dilemma just weeks before the season begins. Turkish shot-stopper Altay Bayindir is now in line to start against Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 17. While Bayindir is held in high regard at the club, he has only made eight appearances under Amorim and lacks the top-flight experience of his injured teammate, a factor Arsenal will be keen to exploit.
Andre Onana
Andre Onana (Image credit: Getty Images)
Since his £47.2 million move from Inter Milan in 2023, Onana has been a key figure for United despite drawing criticism for inconsistency, particularly in shot-stopping. His elite distribution has remained a strength, but high-profile errors have marked his time at Old Trafford, an issue Arsenal’s forwards may now miss the chance to take advantage of.
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For Mikel Arteta’s side, the news offers a potential advantage as they navigate a tough start to the season. Arsenal’s opening 10 fixtures include daunting matchups against Chelsea and reigning champions Manchester City, making a strong result at Old Trafford all the more crucial. With Onana out, the Gunners’ attack, led by Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli will look to press Bayindir and test a reshuffled United defence from the outset.
However, United may yet respond in the transfer market. Reports suggest the Red Devils are weighing up a short-term replacement, with Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez, a former Arsenal player among those linked. Should United move quickly, the dynamic could shift once again.
For now, though, Arsenal enter the season opener with renewed confidence, knowing they will face a Manchester United side missing one of their key figures between the posts.
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