Arsenal kicked off their Premier League season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford

Article: Arsenal Defeat Manchester United 1-0 in Premier League Opener

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Arsenal kicked off their Premier League season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, August 17, 2025. A first-half header from new signing Riccardo Calafiori was enough to secure the three points for the Gunners, despite a dominant performance from Manchester United in terms of possession and shots.

United, managed by Ruben Amorim, had a lively start to the match, with new attacking signings Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko all making their debuts. They controlled possession and created numerous chances, but were unable to find a way past Arsenal's defense and goalkeeper David Raya, who was named man of the match for his vital saves.

The decisive moment came in the 13th minute when Arsenal capitalized on their set-piece prowess. A corner from Declan Rice found Calafiori, who headed the ball home after a goalkeeping error from United's Altay Bayindir.

Despite going a goal down, United continued to press for an equalizer. They had 22 shots to Arsenal's 9 and held 62% of the possession, but their lack of a clinical edge in the final third proved to be their downfall. David Raya was instrumental for Arsenal, making several key saves, including a superb fingertip save to deny a low shot from Cunha and a sprawling stop to keep out a powerful header from Mbeumo.

United's new forward line showed promise, with Mbeumo and Cunha looking particularly bright, but they were ultimately frustrated by a resolute Arsenal defense. Benjamin Sesko, who came on as a substitute in the second half, also made his debut but was unable to make a significant impact.

The win extends Arsenal's winning run over their rivals to six consecutive matches. While United will be disappointed with the result, their performance offered some encouragement for the season ahead. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be pleased to start their campaign with a crucial away victory as they aim to challenge for the title once again.