Manchester United will begin their 2025/26 Premier League campaign on Sunday afternoon as they host Mikel Arteta's Arsenal at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils slumped to their worst ever Premier League finish last campaign, finishing in 15th-place - ultimately unacceptable for a club of such stature.
Despite this, there is cautious optimism at Old Trafford as Ruben Amorim prepares for his first full season in charge. Backed by several marquee signings and with more time on the training ground to bed in his system, United will be eager to kick off the campaign with three points at Old Trafford and build early momentum.
However, toppling Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will be a stern test. The Gunners, who finished second last term, have bolstered their squad with summer acquisitions including Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke and Victor Gyokeres - a player United reportedly pursued before signing Benjamin Šeško from RB Leipzig.
Whether Arsenal assert dominance or Amorim’s United make an early statement, Sunday's game feels like a high-stakes affair for both sides.
Amorim's signings to hit the ground running?
It was glaringly evident during the 2024/25 campaign that**Amorim**’s squad lacked the quality and depth required for a successful campaign. The summer additions of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Diego Leon and most recently Benjamin Šeško, however, have the potential to transform this United side, particularly in attacking areas.
If the Red Devils are to take all three points against Arsenal, those recruits are likely to be central to the task.
Cunha and Mbeumo arrive as Premier League-proven creatives who should be able to slot straight into Amorim’s system. After registering 15 and 20 league goals respectively last season, they offer a potent blend of quality in possession, creativity and direct goal threat - the kind of players who can unsettle opposition defenders and unlock a tight Arsenal backline.
Šeško, who signed from RB Leipzig on August 9, brings a different but complementary profile that United have been crying out for. Standing at 6ft 5in he is a physical focal point: powerful in the box, strong in the air and capable of sudden bursts of pace.
United’s lack of cutting edge last season - just 44 league goals in 2024/25 - is well documented, and Šeško’s 21 goals in all competitions last term suggest he could help address that deficit. Whether he starts against Arsenal or is introduced from the bench, the 22-year-old will be expected to make an immediate impact with much-needed firepower in front of goal.
The midfield: where the game will be won or lost?
A major talking point within this United team is the double pivot in midfield. With the Red Devils reportedly eyeing a move for Brighton's Carlos Baleba before the window shuts, the centre of the park is clearly an area Amorim wants to improve - but for Sunday, he must make do with the options already at his disposal.
Should Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo operate in the two number 10 roles against the Gunners, Bruno Fernandes is the unsurprising pick for one half of the deeper midfield pairing. Who joins him, however, is less clear - Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro each bring very different solutions.
Mainoo is a fan favourite at Old Trafford and has the technical range to help United control possession and progress the ball. After a subdued campaign last season, though, he needs to show greater consistency and defensive sharpness if he is to operate alongside an attack-minded partner like Fernandes. Starting the 20-year-old alongside Fernandes against opposition of Arsenal's attacking quality would feel like a risk.
Ugarte has repeatedly demonstrated his tenacity and ball-winning qualities, the kind of presence who can disrupt opponents and regain possession - but he has yet to prove himself as a complete midfield metronome at Old Trafford.
Casemiro meanwhile offers experience, game-management and defensive nous, yet his reduced mobility at 33 means United would sacrifice some tempo for solidity.
Whoever starts alongside Fernandes must prevent United from being overrun by Arsenal’s midfield fulcrum - likely to comprise of Declan Rice, Zubimendi and Martin Ødegaard - and deny them easy access between the lines. Compactness, discipline and intelligent ball circulation from United's midfielders will be essential; control of central areas could easily decide the outcome of this fixture.
André Onana: time to step up
One of United’s clearest weaknesses last season was between the posts. There is no hiding that André Onana has had a torrid time at United since his move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2023, and too often last term he was directly culpable for goals United would expect their keeper to prevent.
Erik ten Hag signed Onana, a goalkeeper he trusted from their time together at Ajax to replace club legend David de Gea, in part because of his superior ability to play out from the back. That particular strength, however, has failed to opitimise at Old Trafford. Onana has looked uncertain with his passing and under pressure when asked to initiate play, while also struggling with substandard shot-stopping.
There has been transfer speculation surrounding potential replacements for the Cameroonian this summer. Names such as Gianluigi Donnarumma and Senne Lammens have been mentioned, although the club’s focus appears to have shifted towards strengthening in midfield. Regardless, the pressure on Onana is tangible.
Sunday's fixture against Arsenal feels like the opening chapter of a defining season for the 29-year-old. He needs to rediscover confidence, tighten his shot-stopping and improve his distribution to silence critics. If he cannot, his place at the club will understandably come under intense scrutiny, and his time at Old Trafford may soon be running out.