Manchester United’s opening game of the 2025/26 season was a frustrating 1-0 home to defeat to Arsenal.
Only one team deserved to win at Old Trafford, and it was not Arsenal. Unfortunately the Gunners left with a 1-0 victory.
Manchester United were the better team but could not make the dominance pay off, recording a total of 22 shots at goal.
Arsenal took an early lead through a corner and Manchester United could not break them down to score an equaliser, despite long periods of pressure.
Let’s go through the winners and losers from Manchester United’s opener…
Bryan Mbeumo playing for Manchester United
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Winners
Bryan Mbeumo: One of two new Manchester United signings among the starters, Bryan Mbeumo was a major threat, in and out of possession.
Mbeumo did everything he could to try and deliver a breakthrough, attempting an overhead kick, and a powerful header to bring a strong save out of David Raya.
It was an exciting debut which underlined the goal threat Mbeumo will pose. If he plays like this all season, he will score plenty.
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Mbeumo also tracked back well, bringing everything Ruben Amorim would want from him in this role.
Matheus Cunha: A lively performance from Matheus Cunha showed exactly what he was all about, direct and with an eye for goal.
Cunha was inventive, dribbling past Arsenal players, creating space inside the box and had a penalty appeal turned down in the second half.
The Brazilian looks like an astute signing, and he showed a little fire too. Just like Mbeumo, he will score and create his fair share of goals for the club. United have bought well.
Matheus Cunha sofascore
Matheus Cunha sofascore
Patrick Dorgu: Arguably Manchester United’s biggest winner from pre-season, Patrick Dorgu carried on where he left off, and covered the most distance of any Red Devils player.
Dorgu worked well with Luke Shaw on the left to shut off the threat from Bukayo Saka, and he was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.
A rasping shot in the first half beat David Raya and cannoned back off the post. He is getting closer to scoring his first Manchester United goal.
Matthijs de Ligt: A rock at the back, Matthijs de Ligt nullified Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres with a dominant performance.
The centre-back was selected ahead of Harry Maguire and he justified his selection. It is crucial United can keep him fit all season, and just one game a week will help.
De Ligt came through all 90 minutes and made 10 defensive contributions, limiting Arsenal to only three shots on target.
Altay Bayindir rests against the post
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Losers
Altay Bayindir: Manchester United fans saw plenty of Altay Bayindir in 2024/25, and it was mostly disappointing.
A particular lowlight was when he conceded a goal direct from a corner against Tottenham, and he near enough repeated it here.
Bayindir was responsible for Arsenal’s opener, flapping at a corner. He should have been stronger, pushing the set piece towards his own goal, for Calafiori to tap in.
Bayindir was selected ahead of Andre Onana and Tom Heaton, and there is fair argument that he was the riskiest pick of all three.
United need a new goalkeeper, and this game underlined that Bayindir is not a solution, as a first choice or a backup.
Rasmus Hojlund: Ruben Amorim decided not to select Rasmus Hojlund among his starters, and the Dane did not even make the bench.
It is a clear indication that Hojlund is not in the head coach’s plans moving forward, with United lining up without a centre-forward.
Hojlund is third choice at best behind Benjamin Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee, and this was a firm nudge towards the Old Trafford exit door.
Manuel Ugarte: When Manchester United decided to replace Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte got the nod, and it was not the right call, when Kobbie Mainoo was available.
Ugarte drew audible groans from the crowd when he chose to shoot from 30 yards out wildly into the crowd, during the closing stages.
A misplaced pass in his own half also set up an Arsenal attack, which his Manchester United teammates had to clear up. This was a repeat of similar concerns in pre-season.