On Sunday afternoon, Manchester United and Arsenal face off in the Premier League opener at Old Trafford. Both teams want to start the season strong and move closer to their old success.
Manchester United had a terrible 2024-25 season and want to do much better this time. Arsenal, who have finished second for the last three years, are eager to finally win the title.
Manchester United’s manager Ruben Amorim prepares for his first full season in charge. The team will only focus on the Premier League this year, as they are not playing in European competitions. This could help them do better at home.
United have had a good pre-season, winning five games without losing and taking the Premier League Summer Series trophy. Although some draws against Leeds, Everton and Fiorentina showed they still have work to do, they managed back-to-back wins over West Ham and Bournemouth, something they didn’t achieve last season.
The Red Devils have a strong record in the first matches of Premier League seasons, having won more than any other team. If they beat Arsenal, they will also become the first club to have beaten Arsenal 100 times in all competitions.
Arsenal come into the game after a strong 3-0 win against Athletic Bilbao in their last friendly. Goals from Viktor Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz showed they are ready for the season. The Gunners looked confident and in good shape, especially their midfield trio.
Arsenal have been stuck in second place for three years and face tough competition from Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea this season. Still, they hope to win their fourth Premier League opening game in a row and continue scoring at Old Trafford, where they have scored in 11 straight league games. They have not been kept out at Old Trafford since 2013.
Both teams will want a winning start as the battle for the Premier League title heats up.