The focus of the exciting opening week of the Premier League will be on Old Trafford tonight (August 17), where two former giants, Man Utd and Arsenal, will face off in an attempt to restore their past glory.
After a disastrous 2024-25 season, the Red Devils are aiming to bounce back, while the Gunners are desperate to end their streak of second-place finishes. Under the guidance of Ruben Amorim, who retained his hot seat despite being defeated in the Europa League final and finishing 15th in the Premier League, Man Utd are looking towards a fresh start.
Amorim continues to be trusted by Man Utd's leadership (Photo: Getty).
A lack of European football in 2025-26 could be a boon for Amorim’s side, allowing them to focus entirely on domestic goals. With Bruno Fernandes rejecting a move to Saudi Arabia and the addition of a new striker, United have shown remarkable balance in pre-season, going unbeaten in five friendlies and winning the Premier League Summer Series.
However, draws against Leeds United, Everton and Fiorentina have taken some of the shine off wins over West Ham and Bournemouth, but back-to-back wins are something Man Utd have never achieved in the entire 2024-25 Premier League season.
The Red Devils will enter the new campaign with an impressive record in the first round of the Premier League, winning 22 matches, more than any other team. A victory over Arsenal will not only be important in terms of spirit but will also help Man Utd become the first team to defeat the Gunners 100 times in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Arsenal put in an impressive start by scoring three goals against Athletic Bilbao in their final friendly to successfully defend their Emirates Cup title. Viktor Gyokeres' first goal and Martin Zubimendi's assist set up a convincing 3-0 win, with Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz also on target.
Arteta is facing a stressful season (Photo: Getty).
The win helped Mikel Arteta's side make up for the mistakes they made in defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Villarreal, where familiar creativity issues resurfaced. Arsenal, with a full-strength squad and a solid midfield three, were unfazed by Athletic, and the penalty shootout victory was an added bonus ahead of another expected Premier League title race in 2025-26.
Once derided for consistently finishing fourth, Arsenal have now been unable to shake off the curse of finishing second for the past three years. With Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea spending heavily, observers are predicting a four-way title battle in the coming months.
Arsenal's main task now is to win their fourth successive Premier League first-round match, at a stadium where they have scored in 11 consecutive Premier League games. The Gunners have not failed to score in a top-flight match at Old Trafford since 2014.
Squad information
The summer transfer market has seen some big surprises as Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, two names rumored to be playing for Arsenal and Man Utd, could appear for their rivals. Accordingly, Sesko is likely to make his Premier League debut for the "Red Devils", while Gyokeres will face his former coach, Ruben Amorim.
Sesko is ready to play for Man Utd (Photo: Getty).
The Portuguese coach has confirmed Sesko is in the best physical and mental condition to make his Premier League debut. The striker could become part of a new attacking trio alongside Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, although this could push Bruno Fernandes into a deeper role.
Meanwhile, Joshua Zirkzee and Andre Onana have both recovered from injury and are available, despite rumours that they could leave. Likewise, Fulham target Rasmus Hojlund is available. However, Noussair Mazraoui (hamstring) and Lisandro Martinez (knee) are absent.
The head-to-head between Sesko and Gyokeres is expected to be the highlight of this weekend's game. Gyokeres is likely to make his Premier League debut after an impressive performance against Athletic. Kai Havertz's fine goal from the bench has forced Arteta to consider his starting lineup carefully.
If Gyokeres does indeed come off the bench and score, he will become only the third player to score against Man Utd at Old Trafford on his Premier League debut, after Mo Johnston (1992) and Paulo Wanchope (1997).
On the away team side, coach Arteta is also optimistic about Leandro Trossard's groin injury, hoping he will be stable before the match takes place. Gabriel Jesus is the only away team player absent for physical reasons.
Expected lineup
Man Utd: Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Sesko
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/nhan-dinh-man-utd-arsenal-22h30-178-quyet-chien-tai-old-trafford-20250817085111312.htm
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