It certainly wasn't perfect, but Manchester United's last Old Trafford outing showcased the potential that this side has under the Ruben Amorim regime, with the hosts looking truly slick and dynamic in the final third.
With United having scored four times, Amorim can ask little more of his attacking unit, yet the litany of missed chances will still no doubt irk the Portuguese coach, with Bryan Mbeumo notably lashing over the bar on a handful of occasions.
The return of Benjamin Sesko could be the perfect solution, although the Slovenian has himself scored just twice since his £74m summer arrival from RB Leipzig, while memorably squandering two gilt-edged openings before his withdrawal through injury at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
While his own Arsenal woes would suggest United were right to avoid a certain Viktor Gyokeres, Amorim is still in need of a player in the mould of the previously talismanic Swede, with Gyokeres netting 66 times in just 67 games during their time together at Sporting CP.
Viktor-Gyokeres-Amorim-record-timeless
Gyokeres was the 40-year-old's go-to man in Lisbon - now he needs a similar attacking figurehead in Manchester...
Man Utd ready to go all out for another attacking signing
United are already well on their way to improving upon last season's woes in front of goal, having already netted 30 times in just 16 Premier League games, after scoring just 44 goals in total in 2024/25.
That progression has come after a notable summer window that saw Mbeumo, Sesko and Matheus Cunha brought into the fold, although the latter duo have actually scored just four times between them.
Indeed, while Mbeumo leads the way on six league goals, it is the midfield pairing of Bruno Fernandes (five) and Casemiro (four) in second and third on the list, indicating why Amorim needs more from the top end of the pitch.
That dynamic could shift if things go to plan in 2026, with the Telegraph's James Ducker reporting that INEOS are ready to 'go all out' to sign Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo in January.
The report suggests that United are 'hopeful' of beating rivals Manchester City to the £65m man's signature, believing that the uncertainty over Pep Guardiola's long-term future at the Etihad could be a factor in gaining the upper hand.
Antoine Semenyo 2024-25 stats (timeless)-1
The Red Devils are said to have wanted him over the summer, as per Ducker, although were put off by the Cherries' £80m asking price.
Why Semenyo could be the new Gyokeres for Amorim
Four league goals for the Gunners has represented a difficult start to life in the Premier League for the aforementioned Gyokeres, although he was almost as prolific as they come back in Portugal, with 97 in 102 total games for Sporting in just two full seasons.
Something of a late bloomer, the now-27-year-old had made the switch to Lisbon after a spell in the Championship with Coventry City, notably scoring 38 league goals across 2021/22 and 2022/23 for the second-tier side.
Amorim saw the potential in the 6 foot 2, physical specimen and unleashed him to devastating effect in the Primeira Liga, with the hope being that he could do the same with Semenyo in 2026.
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo celebrates scoring their first goal
Like Gyokeres, Semenyo - previously rejected by the likes of Arsenal and Spurs as a teenager - has had to bide his time to truly reach the elite level, having only operated in non-league and the EFL before joining his current side in January 2023.
His talents were no doubt obvious in the Championship, however, having racked up 20 goals and assists for Bristol City in 2021/22, in what proved to be his final full season at Ashton Gate.
Semenyo - Career record by position
Position
CF
LW
RW
RM
LM
AM
Stats via Transfermarkt
Of course, unlike Gyokeres, there is a remarkable versatility to Semenyo's game, considering he may even be utilised at wing-back at Old Trafford, yet it would also be no surprise to see him spearhead the attack, providing Amorim with another relentless attacking "monster" - as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson.
It's fair to say that Primeira Liga defences were no match for the pace and power of Gyokeres, with the same seemingly true of Semenyo in the Premier League right now, with the 25-year-old chalking up ten goals and assists already this season.
The joint-fourth-highest scorer in the division, Semenyo - who was deemed to be a statistically similar forward to Gyokeres back in 2022/23, as per FBref - has warranted such intense interest in his signature, with United needing to do all they can to steal a march when the window opens next month.
He might be a wildcard wing-back option for the Old Trafford side, yet having the £65m star deployed at the tip of the attack, alongside Cunha and Mbeumo, would be a devastating prospect.
Man-Utd-Amad-Ivory-Coast Related
[Amad upgrade: Man Utd in talks "this week" to sign "unplayable" PL talent](https://www.footballfancast.com/amad-upgrade-man-utd-in-talks-this-week-to-sign-antoine-semenyo/ "Amad upgrade: Man Utd in talks "this week" to sign "unplayable" PL talent")
Manchester United's search for new attack-minded wing-backs appears to be stepping up.