Arsenal claimed a rare Old Trafford victory on Sunday evening, grinding out a 1-0 win over Manchester United after Riccardo Calafiori punished a catastrophic mistake from Altay Bayindir.
The Premier League opener, billed as a heavyweight clash between two reshaped squads, was decided by a single set-piece in the 13th minute. Declan Rice’s corner should have been routine for United’s goalkeeper, but Bayindir flapped under pressure from William Saliba and allowed Calafiori to nod in from close range. It was a moment that summed up the difference between both sides: David Raya calm and commanding at one end, Bayindir nervous and erratic at the other.
United’s new-look attack had Old Trafford buzzing early on. Bryan Mbeumo bullied Arsenal’s backline with raw pace and power, while Matheus Cunha forced a stunning fingertip save from Raya with the game’s best open-play chance. Patrick Dorgu also rattled the post from distance. But for all their energy, United lacked precision in the final third and were let down by their goalkeeper’s costly error.
Arsenal, far from their fluent best, leaned on defensive resilience and Raya’s excellence. The Spaniard denied Mbeumo with a smart stop after the break and kept his composure whenever United threatened. Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka struggled to impose themselves, while £64m striker Viktor Gyökeres endured a nightmare debut, losing duels and failing to trouble United’s centre-backs.
Benjamin Šeško was introduced late on to rescue United but squandered his only chance with a wayward header, leaving manager Rúben Amorim to reflect on a promising performance undone by poor finishing and poor goalkeeping. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, admitted his side were far from convincing but praised their ability to “win ugly”, a trait that has eluded his teams in past title races.
The result was Arsenal’s first league win at Old Trafford since 2020 and only their third since 2006, underlining both the significance of the points and the fragility still lingering in United’s rebuild.
