Manchester United’s season begins on Sunday evening and after a successful summer transfer window, excitement is high.
After last season saw Manchester United record a worst ever Premier League finish which means Ruben Amorim needs drastic improvement for the 2025/26 campaign.
The summer showed the Red Devils improve, with United looking good during pre-season, remaining unbeaten throughout the tour, but the real business begins this weekend.
United welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford to begin the season with a blockbuster clash which will either send expectations to the moon, or back to reality.
United will hope to be at almost full strength for the game, with new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha both expected to be starting their first competitive game for the club.
However, it remains to be seen if Amorim will deem Benjamin Sesko ready to play this weekend. Sesko only joined United last weekend and so won’t have had more than a week of training and crucially no real game time with his teammates – apart from a friendly against the U21s.
Amorim has stated that Sesko is physically ready, but added that it remains to be seen whether he will be handed the start, or if his debut will be from the bench.
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If Sesko isn’t playing, it gives one United player a massive chance to force himself into Amorim’s starting line-up for the foreseeable future.
Mason Mount playing against Fiorentina.
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Mason Mount can give Ruben Amorim a headache over attacking trio vs Arsenal
Given Manchester United’s front three this summer have been brought in for a combined £193.5m, it is safe to assume that the plan would be for them to start.
However, should Sesko not be ready to face Arsenal, then it is likely to be Mason Mount who steps into the line-up in an unconventional role up front.
It is an experiment which Amorim has already trialled, with Mount impressing as the striker vs Fiorentina. With Rasmus Hojlund not in the plans, Mount was started there and he was really impressive, dropping in and linking up with both Cunha and Mbeumo.
United fans voted Mount as man of the match in this game and it is clearly Amorim’s back up striker plan right now.
Rio Ferdinand has been impressed by Mount this summer, even labelling the England midfielder as being “like a new signing” for Amorim, as he finally has put some consistent form together and scored some goals.
Mount has become very underrated, but if he continues on these lines, it will be tough for Amorim to ignore the 26-year-old, and against Arsenal may end up being his only chance to force himself into the starting line-up, keeping out one of the new trio.
Mason Mount might be on his final opportunity at Manchester United
When Mount signed for United in 2023, Bruno Fernandes admitted he expected a lot from the number seven, however the deal never quite panned out.
Nobody saw Mount’s injury issues coming, least of all the player himself, however in his first two seasons, he was a bit of a non-factor.
The midfielder caught heavy flak, with Mount being blasted by Roy Keane for his lack of impact at United.
This all changed after Amorim’s arrival last November and Mount concluded the 2024/25 season on a real personal high. Amorim admitted loving Mount and we have seen why, with the English international suiting the demands of his manager perfectly.
However, this needs to see Mount put together a full campaign for United, either as a squad player or a starter, as if he doesn’t then it will surely be time to move on.
Mount is in season three and last chance saloon, otherwise an alternative will be required. He can kick start his season against Arsenal and it could be his last chance before the newly signed trio all kick on and become the starters.