[Manchester United](https://www.balls.ie/football/roy-keane-manchester-united-problem-637940) hosted [Arsenal](https://www.balls.ie/football/katie-mccabe-arsenal-homecoming-631578) at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League season, and it was a familiar tale for both teams.
Man United lost after failing to find the net, while Arsenal scored from a set-piece and ground out a 1-0 win.
Riccardo Calafiori scored the only goal of the game after Altay Bayindir made a dreadful error from Declan Rice's corner.
United were arguably the better team, but have nothing to show for their efforts. Arsenal, meanwhile, managed the game well, and returned to North London with all three points.
Here is how we rated the players from the game.
### Man United
**Bayindir - 4**
The Turkish goalkeeper was badly at fault for the only goal of the game when he made a mess of Arsenal's inswinging corner and allowed Calafiori to score. Bayindir showed he is not a long-term option to be United's first-choice keeper.
**Yoro - 6**
He didn't have a lot to do against Arsenal's forwards.
**De Ligt - 5**
De Ligt was in no-man's land for Arsenal's opening goal. The Dutch defender started at the back post. By the time he reacted, the ball was in United's net. He did, however, deal comfortably with Gyökeres.
**Shaw - 6**
A solid performance after an injury-hit campaign last season.
**Diogo Dalot - 6**
Dalot helped support United's attacking players and was often the furthest player forward for the Red Devils in the first half.
**Casemiro - 5**
The Brazilian midfielder was solid before he was replaced by Ugarte. He won several tackles and was accurate with his long passes. Rice, however, won the midfield battle.
**Bruno Fernandes - 5**
The Man United captain tried to spark his team into life throughout.
However, for Arsenal's goal, Fernandes showed why he is more suited to playing as an advanced midfielder rather than deeper, as he was on Sunday. Bruno failed to clear the ball, and Arsenal scored from the subsequent corner.
If Man United sign a new central midfielder, Bruno will be free to use his talents further up the pitch, where he can take more risks.
**Dorgu - 6**
The wing-back came closest to scoring for Man United in the opening half when he struck the post with a shot from distance.
**Mbeumo - 7**
The former Brentford winger was one of United's best players. He tested Raya several times and linked up well with his teammates. On the evidence of Sunday's game, Mbeumo could potentially replicate last season's form, when he scored 20 goals, in this campaign.
**Mount - 5**
The England midfielder linked up well with Cunha before fading from the game. His inclusion in the team pushes Bruno back into midfield, and arguably doesn't improve United.
**Matheus Cunha - 7**
Man United's new number 10 was impressive in the first half. Cunha had three shots on target and forced an excellent save from Raya. For context, Rasmus Hoijlund, United's main centre-forward last season, had only 13 shots on target in the entire season.
Cunha is likely to play deeper when Benjamin Šeško is integrated into the United team. But if he is to play centre forward, the former Wolves star is clearly an upgrade on Hoijlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
**Subs.**
Diallo 5, Šeško 5, Ugarte 5, Harry Maguire (not on long enough to rate).
### Arsenal
**Raya - 8 (MOTM)**
The Gunners goalkeeper made a brilliant save from Cunha's effort in the first half and denied Mbeumo on a few occasions.
**White - 6**
White defended well, making his fair share of blocks, clearances, and tackles as the Gunners recorded a clean sheet.
**Saliba - 7**
He played his part in Arsenal's opening goal by making a nuisance of himself in the United box and causing disruption. Saliba was also robust in defence, making several clearances and interceptions, and winning tackles.
**Gabriel - 6**
The Arsenal defender played his part as the team kept a clean sheet.
**Calafiori - 7**
The Italian defender was gifted a goal in the first half and was solid defensively.
**Ødegaard - 7**
Ødegaard was the team's creative spark. He passed the ball well, was neat in possession, and helped Arsenal get up the pitch.
**Zubimendi - 6**
Arsenal's new midfielder kept play ticking over.
**Rice - 7**
The England midfielder played a dangerous cross for Arsenal's goal.
**Saka - 6**
Saka was quiet throughout.
**Gyökeres - 4**
Arsenal's new centre-forward battled physically against the United defence and worked hard, but his contribution in possession was limited. Gyökeres managed just 13 touches of the ball before he was substituted, and lost the ball three times.
**Gabriel Martinelli - 4**
Anonymous.
**Subs.**
Madueke 5, Havertz 5, Timber 5, Lewis-Skelly 5, Merino (not on long enough to rate).