Manchester United vs Arsenal: Five talking points ahead of the marquee Premier League clash

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes (AP Photo)

Manchester United have been revamped. Or, are they? There have been so many false dawns since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. Ruben Amorim, the new manager, is (re) building from the ground up. The club hierarchy has backed him by spending north of £200 million in the ongoing transfer window. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko are serious reinforcements. The ‘bomb squad’ comprising the likes of Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho have been kept at arm's length. Marcus Rashford has been shipped out to Barcelona. And yet, United open their 2025-26 Premier League campaign against Arsenal as underdogs.

The Gunners under Mikel Arteta are so far ahead that United will need at least three more transfer windows to close the gap. Before that, they have to change culture and the process in that regard has begun in earnest.

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Arsenal face immediate test of title credentials

Arteta has done wonderfully well at Arsenal. But does he have it in him to take his side to the next level, the Premier League title that is? Until last season, the excuse centred around not having a top-class striker. This time, the club has broken the bank to sign Viktor Gyokeres. Arsenal have finished second for the past three seasons. United finished 15th last term. A draw would be a moral victory for them, notwithstanding that the game is at Old Trafford.

Midfield conundrum for United

Now that United have missed out on Carlos Baleba in their pursuit of a world-class defensive midfielder, they are yet again left with Casemiro. “Football has left him at this top level. He has to call it a day and move,” former Liverpool centre-half Jamie Carragher had said about Casemiro last season. At 33 years of age, the Brazilian is more of a Soccer Aid player now. It's very likely that United would lose the midfield battle against Declan Rice and Co.

Two No. 10s?

How will Amorim fit two playmakers, Cunha and Bruno Fernandes, in the starting XI? Will Fernandes play as an auxiliary No. 10, or will he be more of a No. 8? It would be interesting to see how the two players gel.

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Can Sesko end United’s goal drought?

United scored only 44 goals in 38 games in the league last term, a reason why they had a wretched season. Rasmus Hojlund has proven to be an unmitigated disaster at this level. The club has addressed the goal-scoring problem by signing Sesko. The Slovenian needs to fire from the word go.

Onana and his customary howlers

United are still searching for a competent goalkeeper. Until they find one, they will have to make do with Andre Onana and his customary howlers every game. Earlier this year, Nemanja Matic had described Onana as “one of the worst goalkeepers in (Manchester United) history”. The Cameroonian missed the pre-season due to an injury. If Amorim plays him on Sunday, that would work to Arsenal’s advantage.