Ruben Amorim and Manchester United have two players who could have a transformative impact on the Red Devils’ entire season, despite their loss to Arsenal.
That is according to BBC Sport pundit Danny Murphy, who told Manchester United fans that there could be a “quite positive” outcome for them in the new season.
United began their 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford on Sunday and the Red Devils had a showdown with rivals Arsenal in their opening Premier League match.
However, the Gunners walked away with the ultimate bragging rights on the weekend after Arsenal sealed a 1-0 win over United and took home all three points.
Riccardo Calafiori netted the first-half opener and winner from an Arsenal set-piece, with the Red Devils unable to find the crucial equaliser before the full-time whistle.
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The Manchester United players acknowledge a minute’s silence for the late Diogo Jota ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in 2025 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
BBC Sport pundit Danny Murphy drops his assessment on Man Utd summer signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha
Manchester United fell short to Arsenal in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat, but the Red Devils were able to walk away from the Premier League match with major positives.
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Ruben Amorim watched the Red Devils being a lively presence in the final third and United’s new-look attack featured signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
Bryan Mbeumo played the full 90 minutes and was deployed in the right No 10 role, while Matheus Cunha spent the same time on the pitch and played on the left side.
Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, Danny Murphy said that Mbeumo and Cunha both showed the major revamp of United’s attacking output under Ruben Amorim.
“More dynamic, more direct, more confident,” he explained.
“Physically, they looked really good and I think a lot of that comes from having players high up the pitch, especially the two new boys [Mbeumo and Cunha] who are just high in quality.
“It’s chalk and cheese, Gab [Match of the Day presenter Gabby Logan]. Honestly and Man United fans can actually be, I think, quite positive about this.”
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What Danny Murphy spotted about Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha’s respective performances for Man Utd vs Arsenal
Murphy suggested that Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, who arrived from Brentford and Wolves respectively, posed a real threat to the Arsenal backline.
“You could see that against the Gunners,” he told Chris Bevan for BBC Sport.
“With United looking to get the ball forward quickly, Arsenal’s defenders were worried about Cunha and Mbeumo, so they sat in rather than trying to get forward to kill the game off.”
Mbeumo and Cunha started the match against Arsenal alongside Mason Mount, who was deployed in a false nine-esque role and impressed with his overall performance.
Murphy added that the Red Devils’ two summer signings showed their effectiveness in linking up with the wing-backs in Amorim’s tactical system for United.
“The United wing-backs were always willing to get forward in support, knowing Cunha and Mbeumo were going to keep the ball,” he explained.
“Mason Mount had an excellent game too, which was another big positive.”
United will now travel to Craven Cottage on Sunday and the Red Devils will play their first Premier League match of the new season away from home against Fulham.