Arsenal Edge Past United as Gyokeres Makes Debut

Arsenal opened their 2025/26 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win on Sunday, 17 August, as Riccardo Calafiori’s header proved decisive against Manchester United.

The breakthrough came after 13 minutes when Man U goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to deal with Declan Rice’s corner, allowing Calafiori to nod home at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England. The hosts protested that William Saliba had blocked Bayindir, but the goal stood.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta admitted his side were not performing at their best, yet praised their tenacity, saying: “We can still come away and find a way to win the game [sic]. The team has to find that resilience throughout the season.”

Arsenal debutant Viktor Gyokeres endured a quiet outing, but his manager was encouraged, saying the 27-year-old forward “did a lot of things very well.”

United boss Ruben Amorim defended Bayindir, insisting that his team had been the better side: “We deserved more and we were the better team. That is clear, but in the end we lost.”

Pundit Roy Keane, however, criticised the “low expectations” at Old Trafford, while Gary Neville felt the Red Devils had shown signs of promise.

For the Gunners, the result was less about style and more about substance, but demonstrated an early statement of intent in their pursuit of silverware this season.

Image Credit: Source