Arsenal beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford as Riccardo Calafiori’s debut goal seals victory. United dominate but waste chances in tense clash.
Arsenal opened their Premier League campaign with a narrow but vital 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, continuing their strong tradition of winning on the opening day and underlining their ambitions for another title push. This was not just another victory, but a statement of intent, as Mikel Arteta’s side recorded only their third league success at the famous ground in the last 18 attempts. For United, however, it was a night of frustration, where energy and attacking promise were not rewarded, leaving their supporters with plenty of questions after a summer of change.
On a sun-drenched evening in Manchester, the mood before kickoff was charged with optimism. United, with Ruben Amorim in charge for his first league match, were determined to turn the page after their most disappointing Premier League campaign in decades. Arsenal, meanwhile, arrived with renewed belief and a squad reinforced by smart summer signings, looking to finally end their long wait for a league title. The stage was set for a classic encounter, and from the opening whistle, it became clear that both teams were intent on seizing control.
United began brightly, buoyed by the roar of the Stretford End, stringing together neat passing sequences and pressing Arsenal high up the pitch. The early tempo unsettled the visitors, but despite their intensity, United lacked a decisive cutting edge in front of goal. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was rarely troubled in the opening exchanges, watching on as United’s promising moves fizzled out in the final third.
The breakthrough came at the other end, and it was a moment that United debutant Altay Bayindir will want to forget. Standing in for Andre Onana, the Turkish goalkeeper completely misjudged Declan Rice’s inswinging corner, flapping helplessly as the ball floated towards the back post. Waiting there was Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal’s new defensive recruit, who nodded the ball into the net from close range. It was a soft goal for United to concede, but one that highlighted Arsenal’s ability to punish the slightest mistake. For Arteta’s side, it also continued a remarkable run of scoring in 12 successive league visits to Old Trafford.
The goal settled Arsenal, who began to control the tempo and frustrate the home crowd. However, United responded with resilience and carved out opportunities of their own. Bryan Mbeumo, one of their headline summer signings, looked sharp on the wing, seeing an effort deflected just wide of the post. Moments later, Patrick Dorgu unleashed a fierce low drive that smacked the base of the upright, leaving Raya rooted. Striker Matheus Cunha also tested the Spaniard twice in quick succession, forcing smart saves and increasing the pressure on Arsenal’s back line. Despite those chances, the Gunners clung to their slender advantage as halftime arrived.
The second half unfolded much like the first, with United dictating possession and driving forward but lacking the decisive finish that could change the game. Mbeumo remained their most dangerous outlet, combining well with Cunha, whose powerful running unsettled Arsenal’s defence. The Cameroonian winger nearly delivered the moment Old Trafford craved with a spectacular bicycle kick, but his effort flew narrowly wide. Later, he rose to meet a deflected cross from Dorgu, powering a header towards goal, only to be denied by a sensational diving save from Raya. That stop, arguably the best of the match, preserved Arsenal’s clean sheet and underscored why he is trusted in Arteta’s system.
As the minutes ticked away, United’s intensity faded. Arsenal, disciplined and compact, began to manage the game with greater assurance, frustrating their opponents and easing the pressure with controlled spells of possession. Amorim’s men threw bodies forward, but the precision and sharpness required to unlock Arsenal’s defence were missing. In the final stages, the visitors held their shape superbly, ensuring that United could not create one last clear chance to salvage a point.
For Arsenal, this result was the perfect start to their 100th successive season in the top flight. The Gunners have now extended their unbeaten away run in the league to 15 matches, a remarkable stretch that highlights their resilience on the road. Calafiori’s debut goal was the headline moment, but the collective discipline and game management will have pleased Arteta just as much.
United may have ended the night empty-handed, but there were positives to draw. Amorim’s system encouraged attacking movement and created opportunities, even if the finishing touch was missing. The performances of newcomers Mbeumo, Cunha, and Dorgu offered hope, though Bayindir’s error will inevitably dominate the headlines. For all their effort, however, the familiar story of wasted chances haunted United once more, as they failed to score in their fourth home league game out of five.
Cunha and Mbeumo fired a combined shots at goal – the same as Arsenal’s entire tally
Deadly duo pic.twitter.com/BsiQnOLxbN
— LiveScore (@livescore) August 17, 2025
Arsenal will head back to London knowing they have already conquered one of their trickiest fixtures of the season. United, meanwhile, are left reflecting on what might have been, with optimism still flickering but tempered by the reality of another costly defeat.
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