Arsenal had only won two of their previous 11 trips to Old Trafford. A victory in the opening day in a stadium where they struggled so often is something to celebrate, no matter how narrow.
Mikel Arteta then called it a “huge” result. “To go to Old Trafford in the first game with that atmosphere, the way they build momentum, with new signing sessions and excitement around them, it is a great feeling,” he added to Sky Sports.
They did it by falling back on characteristic strengths. The winner of Riccardo Calafiori came from a new corner routine. “We don't want to be predictable,” said Arteta. But the result was known. It was their 31st goal from a corner since the beginning of 2023/24.
No other side is more than 20 in that time frame.
They are in their own competition when it comes to set pieces and they also remain the excellent team of the Premier League defensive.
Even ending 10 points behind Liverpool last season, they gave seven goals less than any other side. This was just the newest example of their resilience and organization under pressure.
They were of course also due to David Raya. He made a total of seven saves, including an excellent intervention to refuse Matheus Cunha in the first half. But few parties can equal Arsenal when it comes to calling the grit and the wild requirement in circumstances such as the last 20 minutes at Old Trafford.
“Arsenal is one of the best teams in managing games and knowing how to run the clock,” said Sky Sports Pundit Gary Neville on co-commentary. “They are an experienced unity.”
Their experience was tested, especially in the first half when the new signing sessions of Manchester United, Bryan Mbeumo and Cunha, came into the space in space. But Arsenal responded.
“They really buried,” Neville added. “They showed a lot of resilience. We know how good they are defensive. The goalkeeper made a number of great saves and the rear four became better as the game progressed.
“They were never at their best, but to come to Manchester here, whether it is Old Trafford or Manchester City, is always difficult. It is a big one to get three points for Mikel Arteta.”
The Arsenal -Baas described the defensive efforts of his party as “phenomenal”, but there was also an acceptance that their performance was generally “not on their standards”. “We have to improve many things,” he added in his press conference.
The most important challenge for him and his players, who last season only scored 69 goals to the 86 of Liverpool, is to return to offensive levels that are demonstrated during the 2023/24 campaign when they reached a club record of 91 with 88 in the previous one.
The club acted this summer with that in mind and spent a combined £ 115.5 million on Viktor Gyokeres, who started in Old Trafford, and Noni Madueke, who came as a replacement for Gabriel Martinelli in the second half.
Arteta spoke with clear excitement about the qualities that Gyokeres, scorer of 97 goals in 102 matches for Sporting will add before the game by his side. But early evidence suggests that there is a lot of work to do to adapt, both for him and for the team.
Gyokees worked hard and showed a glimpse of his physical qualities against the defenders of Manchester United, but he made way for Kai Havertz on the hour that Mark had only completed four steps and had not registered any shot.
Gyokees needs more service. He will also have to build chemistry with his new teammates. But he was not helped by the collective carelessness of Arsenal in possession.
Their passing accuracy rate of 75 percent was their lowest in a Premier League match since the 2-2 draw with Manchester City last September and was far below the average of 89 percent last season.
Arteta will hope that this is due to rustiness in the early season, but there are broader questions about Arsenal and their relationship with risk, brought to the attention by Liverpool and Manchester City who opens their campaigns with four-purpose victories this weekend.
“The sign of a really good team is when you are not at your best and you win your football matches,” said Sky Sports Pundit Roy Keane. “The care for me in the second half is that there were opportunities to really go to Manchester United, but they seemed to be rid of it from that point of view.
“In the future, competing with people like Liverpool and Manchester City, they seem to want to go for that second or third goal, while Arsenal thinks:” Oh, we're 1-0 up, maybe we'll hold it “.
“That failed a counterproductive last year when they had too many peers. You will not win and improve that. Arsenal must be clinical in their game and really go for that second or third goal.”
What is most important is of course that Arsenal left with the result they came for. History tells us that Old Trafford is not the ground for a free-wheeling approach, even in the best times. But finding the attacking fluency to match their defensive power is the key to the title of Arsenal that hopes this season. It remains a work in progress.