3 hours ago
4
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Arsenal team news
Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal’s new centre-forward, goes straight into the starting XI. Martin Zubimendi also starts in midfield, with Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera on the bench.
Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White are preferred to Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jurrien Timber at full-back. In recent years Arsenal have been criticised for their bench strength. Not today.
Arsenal (4-3-3) Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Timber, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard, Madueke, Havertz.
Man Utd team news
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha start, Benjamin Sesko is on the bench.
Mason Mount is also included, probably as the left-sided No10 with Bruno Fernandes playing deeper. That said, Sky have the United team with Mount as a false nine.
Man Utd (3-4-2-1) Bayindir; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Mount; Cunha.
Subs: Heaton, Fredericson, Heaven, Maguire, Mainoo, Ugarte, Amad, Zirkzee, Sesko.
Preamble
Hello, hello and welcome to live coverage of Manchester United v Arsenal at Old Trafford. Broadly, there are two ways to view this game:
-
It’s the game of the weekend, a humdinger between two of English football’s Holy Trinity. A perfect way to start the season!
-
It’s 15th v 2nd based on last season’s league table. Why’s everyone getting so excited?
We’re in camp 1. The thought of an unenticing match between Manchester United and Arsenal at any stage of the season does not compute. And this isn’t any stage: it’s the opening weekend, a window in time when everything is hope and hope is everything.
Right now Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, Bryan Mbuemo, Martin Zubimendi and all the other new signings exist solely in the imagination of supporter, silhouettes of football perfection who will take United and Arsenal to the next level.
The last time these two met on the opening weekend was 36 years ago – Michael Knighton, Neil Webb and all that – so this is kind of a big deal. That 1989 match, won 4-1 by a United side who soon fell into a relegation battle, is a reminder that we shouldn’t get carried away with today’s result.
That’s exactly what we’ll be doing, isn’t it.
Kick off 4.30pm.
