BY TONY UDOKA WITH AGENCY REPORTS
Riccardo Calafiori’s first-half header from a Declan Rice corner proved the difference as Arsenal edged a 1-0 win at Manchester United, though Mikel Arteta’s side looked far from convincing in their season opener.
The Gunners were sloppy in possession, wasteful on the break and reliant on man-of-the-match David Raya to keep the hosts at bay. Still, three points at Old Trafford is never to be sniffed at.
Mikel Arteta went with a bold, attacking lineup, clearly intent on having Arsenal take the game to United. What he perhaps didn’t bargain for was a home side who looked far more organised than last season, buoyed by a crowd eager to believe in Ruben Amorim’s new era.
The hosts started sharply, Mount leading the line with the busy Cunha and Mbeumo buzzing around him. Their plan was obvious: move the ball forward quickly, pepper Arsenal’s back line with long balls, and keep us pegged back. It worked too. In the opening 10 minutes, we managed only eight completed passes, panic evident every time we tried to play out.
A neat Mount pass inside Calafiori freed Mbeumo for a low strike that Raya gathered, setting the tone. At the other end, new signing Viktor Gyokeres found himself on the receiving end of constant jeers as De Ligt got the better of their early duels. Dorgu flashed one wide, Saliba picked up a word from referee Simon Hooper after clattering the same player, before we finally exposed United’s well-worn Achilles heel: set-pieces.
Calafiori and Odegaard combined to win a corner on 13 minutes. Rice’s delivery was dropped right on top of keeper Bayindir, who flapped under pressure from Saliba, and Calafiori nodded home from a yard out.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze was denied a brilliant free-kick goal and potential fairytale ending in what could be his final appearance for Crystal Palace in the goalless Premier League draw at Chelsea.
The midfielder, 27, was a doubt for selection amid ongoing talks with Tottenham, but started for the visitors at Stamford Bridge and powered home a free-kick from 20 yards in the 13th minute.
However, the strike was ruled out by referee Darren England after a VAR check because Palace defender Marc Guehi – also linked with a move away to Liverpool – was within one metre of Chelsea’s wall when the free-kick was taken.
The rule, which has been in place since 2019, is rarely applied but cost Palace, who missed further chances through striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and Maxence Lacroix, and were the better team earlier on.