The Inaugural Steps: Assessing the Premier League’s New Guard in the Manchester United vs. Arsenal Clash

The curtain rose on another Premier League season, a spectacle brimming with the usual anticipation, tactical intrigue, and, of course, the grand unveiling of freshly acquired talent. The opening weekend`s marquee clash, a spirited albeit scrappy encounter between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford, was billed by some as a direct contest between their new, big-money attacking forwards. Yet, with a delightful touch of footballing irony, the decisive moment arrived not from a prolific striker, but a defender, sealing a narrow 1-0 victory for the Gunners from a set-piece. This understated affair, while highlighting Arsenal`s knack for finding a way to win, also starkly illuminated the considerable ground Manchester United still needs to cover.

Beyond the immediate result, the match served as a crucial proving ground, offering the world its first real glimpse of six of the summer window’s most vaunted transfers in action. Manchester United had seemingly overhauled their frontline, with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko forming a new attacking trident. On the Arsenal side, the focus was on Viktor Gyokeres, the striker chosen over Sesko after a summer-long pursuit, alongside midfield orchestrator Martin Zubimendi and dynamic winger Noni Madueke. So, how did these freshly minted stars navigate their high-stakes debuts?

The Red Devils` Reinforcements: A Mixed Palette of Promise and Ponderance

Bryan Mbeumo: The Immediate Spark

Of all the debutants on display, Bryan Mbeumo perhaps looked the most at home in his new Manchester United colours. This shouldn`t come as a grand revelation; operating on the right of a front three, with an overlapping wing-back, is hardly alien territory for the former Brentford man. Within mere minutes, Mbeumo had Old Trafford on its collective feet, demonstrating his signature darting runs infield from the right flank and unleashing a couple of genuinely threatening shots. His deployment, high and wide, allowed him to subtly evade excessive defensive duties and receive the ball in dangerous areas before Arsenal`s defence could fully regroup. Against a side still finding its defensive rhythm, this approach proved supremely effective.

Mbeumo’s desire to shoot was commendable, and he arguably forced the most impressive of David Raya’s seven saves, rising powerfully to meet a cross with a header that bounced menacingly in front of the Spaniard. But it was his nuanced touches – a quick flick to spin away from Zubimendi early on, or a seemingly diffident flick of his left boot that perfectly teed up Matheus Cunha – that truly hinted at his class. The question, however, remained: what came next after those moments of individual brilliance?

Matheus Cunha: Industry Meets Imprecision

Manchester United’s faithful, ever appreciative of honest endeavour, voted their new Brazilian striker, Matheus Cunha, man of the match. His performance was indeed defined by a level of industry often conspicuously absent from Old Trafford forwards in recent times. He threw himself into a match-high 20 duels, and the relentless pressure he applied from the central striker position undoubtedly contributed to Arsenal`s somewhat loose build-up play.

However, industry alone does not win matches. Cunha himself was, at times, guilty of rather careless decisions in possession, particularly when approaching the opposition goal. He embodied the two interconnected issues plaguing United’s attacking performance: an abundance of rushed shots. Twenty-two attempts on goal translated to a meagre 1.52 Expected Goals (xG) – a concerning ratio. Last season, Cunha enjoyed a brilliant goal-scoring return, his 15 Premier League goals instrumental in keeping Wolves afloat. Yet, this tally significantly outstripped his xG of 8.65, inflated by a string of spectacular long-range efforts that even the sport’s most elite finishers rarely convert consistently. Half of his 2023-24 shots, and five of his goals (from just 2.25 xG), originated from outside the box. Such “hot streaks,” as any seasoned analyst knows, tend not to last forever.

On multiple occasions against Arsenal, Cunha attempted to conjure up similar magic, a trait also shared by Mbeumo. Consider a moment where Cunha received a clever flick from his fellow new signing, with space opening up between the lines. A simple slip-pass back to Mbeumo, moving into an onside position, seemed the logical, more potent choice. Instead, he struck tamely from range. This could be a sign of things to come, or, optimistically, it`s a habit that new manager Ruben Amorim can swiftly address by simply instructing Cunha to work the ball into more advantageous shooting positions.

This image of isolated attacks also speaks to United`s other pressing concern: the alarming scarcity of players around the penalty box when the hosts attacked. The 22 shots might have been far more dangerous had the countless cutbacks into the box been aimed at anyone in particular. While Cunha, as the nominal striker, could have done more, leading the line isn`t truly his natural game. He clearly preferred dropping deep into central and left channels. This might work if a player like Mason Mount were as adept at running in behind as Mbeumo. Instead, United often devolved into what felt like a two-man counter-attack, relying solely on Cunha or Mbeumo to create something from nothing. Occasionally, they hinted at magic, as when Cunha effortlessly glided past Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Gabriel. But expecting such individual brilliance consistently from debutants is, frankly, a tall order.

Benjamin Sesko: The Late, Promising Spark

That dynamic shifted, at least partially, when Amorim introduced Benjamin Sesko with 25 minutes remaining. Judging a raw striker, whose impact should be assessed over years rather than minutes, on a quick cameo is, of course, reductive. Yet, there was precious little to complain about. What did United desperately need as they chased the game? Penalty box presence. And that’s precisely what they got. Even Wayne Rooney, United’s record goalscorer, offered qualified praise on his podcast: “He held the ball up,” Rooney observed, “he put himself in the middle of the goal and he was waiting to try and get chances, so I think there`s lots of positives.”

Sesko concluded his brief appearance with four penalty box touches and two shots on goal. More impressive still were the chances he created, particularly a stretching run behind the Arsenal backline that ended with him expertly flicking the ball back into space. While it was not ultimately logged as a shot assist (Manuel Ugarte`s speculative 30-yard effort from the resulting space was hardly an effective use of the opportunity), things undeniably happened for United with Sesko on the pitch. As starts go, that is plenty encouraging.

The Gunners` Gambit: Integrating New Talent, Not Always Seamlessly

Viktor Gyokeres: The Weight of Expectation

Ironically, in those 25 minutes, United’s new man, Sesko, ended up with more penalty box touches than the player Arsenal ultimately favoured over him. Viktor Gyokeres managed just three, and the most dangerous of those was also the most inauspicious. Finally unleashed down the inside left channel, where he proved so devastating for Sporting Lisbon, Gyokeres drove at Matthijs De Ligt, looking to cut inside onto his favoured right foot. Instead, he somehow contrived to tread on the ball, which spun backwards, leaving him scrabbling to concede a free-kick. This was, by all accounts, a trying debut for the Swede, but perhaps that was to be expected. After all, plenty behind him seemed to be struggling too.

Most encouraging, however, was how his teammates actively sought to adapt their game to make Gyokeres as effective as possible. This match saw Arsenal play at their fastest pace in their three-plus seasons of Premier League title contention, a tangible commitment to getting quick balls up to their new striker, who has long looked his best as a sort of one-man counter-attacking force. Then again, as evidenced by his touch map, Gyokeres himself seemed to be trying to adapt to Arsenal. He wasn`t simply hovering in his favoured central spots but actively swung into both channels and dropped deep to aid in build-up.

Bukayo Saka, an attacking linchpin, offered cautious optimism: “I was impressed with him and he battled for us. It was tough. There was a big battle up there. I thought he did well. His performance gives us something to build on and I am sure it will help him next week. He has slotted in well and so have the other guys.”

Even in a game devoid of shots or chances created for him, there were fleeting glimpses of Gyokeres` potential to combine well – a fine cross, for instance, that demanded more from Gabriel Martinelli than a volley attempt connecting with nothing but fresh air. But these were indeed just flashes, and that will need to change swiftly. Part of the reason Arsenal opted for a 27-year-old with Championship experience over Sesko, long touted as Europe`s next top striker, was the belief that Gyokeres could deliver an immediate impact. There is still ample time for that assessment to be vindicated, of course, but there might be some considerable work ahead in truly blending Gyokeres` style with Arsenal`s established attacking patterns.

Martin Zubimendi: The Quiet Anchor

Ten minutes into the game, it wasn’t Gyokeres who would have had Arsenal fans particularly anxious. Instead, a loose right arm to the face from Martin Zubimendi seemed to send the former Real Sociedad man momentarily spinning. This was a proper “welcome to the Premier League” moment, and for a while, it appeared the Spaniard might be overawed. Three of his first four passes went astray, though a fair chunk were quick flicks and lay-offs. More concerning was his initial inability to simply get on the ball.

Ultimately, he never quite stamped his dominant mark on a game that seemed ill-suited for a passing metronome. Crucially, however, in such unconventional circumstances, Zubimendi simply did the basics well. After those initial three misplaced passes, he did not give the ball away again until the second half. Out of possession, the 26-year-old diligently cleaned up play and covered ground impressively, with only Martin Odegaard covering more distance than him. There will undoubtedly be games this season where he completes 30 or 40 more passes or leaves his indelible mark with a brilliant through ball. But in this scrappy opener, all Mikel Arteta would have wanted from his deepest midfielder was a bit of solidity – a performance that could almost pass you by if you weren`t paying close attention. That, precisely, is what Zubimendi delivered, and it was, in its understated way, absolutely fine.

Noni Madueke: A Glimpse of Potential

On the subject of “absolutely fine,” not much more can be said about Noni Madueke, whose half-hour cameo involved a mere 15 touches of the ball. He did create one shooting chance by playing a smart ball to Declan Rice on the edge of the box and might have snatched a late goal had Bruno Fernandes not produced a heroic block on Bukayo Saka`s cross. There wasn`t a significant amount to discern from Madueke`s performance, but that`s hardly a surprise given Arsenal`s defensive posture in the closing stages.

What was perhaps more significant for Madueke’s prospects at Arsenal were the clear difficulties experienced by the man he replaced, Gabriel Martinelli. Martinelli swung at fresh air, struggled to find his passing radar, and had little other impact in the final third. The Brazilian has borne the brunt of fan frustration in preseason and currently looks a neutered version of the devastating attacker of three years ago. Arsenal are actively seeking an attacker to bolster their options on the flank, but in the interim, it would be no surprise to see Madueke snatch a starting spot when Leeds United arrive at the Emirates on Saturday night.

Beyond the Scoreline: The Deeper Implications

These opening weekend debuts offer more than just statistical snapshots; they provide crucial early indicators of tactical intentions, player suitability, and the sheer weight of expectation placed upon these multi-million-pound investments. For Manchester United, the challenge lies in harmonizing the individual brilliance of Mbeumo and Cunha with a more coherent attacking structure, ensuring their industry translates into consistent, high-quality chances. Sesko’s late cameo, meanwhile, hints at a directness and penalty-box presence that could become invaluable.

Arsenal, on the other hand, face the intriguing task of integrating Gyokeres’s powerful, direct style into their more intricate, possession-based approach. His adaptation, and the team`s willingness to adjust for him, will be key to unlocking his full potential. Zubimendi, the quiet professional, demonstrated the foundational solidity required in a top-tier midfield, while Madueke`s brief appearance offered a glimmer of hope for a significant role, especially if Martinelli continues to struggle for form.

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Ultimately, these are merely the first steps in what promises to be a long and arduous Premier League season. The true measure of these new signings will not be defined by a single debut, however scrutinized, but by their consistency, their ability to adapt to the relentless demands of English football, and their eventual contribution to their clubs` seasonal ambitions. The narrative has begun, and the coming weeks will undoubtedly add fascinating new chapters to the Premier League`s ever-evolving story.