Riccardo Calafiori's early header proved decisive as Arsenal battled to a 1-0 win over Manchester United in their 2025/26 Premier League opener at Old Trafford on Sunday. Arsenal's mastery of corners continued as they scored (below) from their first of the new campaign just 13 minutes in, with Calafiori aided by some suspect goalkeeping from Altay Bayindir. The Gunners were anything but free flowing for much of the contest, with United debutants Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo taking the fight to Mikel Arteta's team. However, they were each denied by fabulous saves from David Raya as Arsenal held out for three hard-earned points, joining potential title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City in winning their first match.
United started brightly but Arsenal struck from their first set-piece opportunity, with Calafiori nodding in from beneath the crossbar following Bayindir's weak attempt to punch Declan Rice's delivery away. The hosts almost levelled on the half-hour mark, but Patrick Dorgu's drive from the left corner of the area hit a post before bouncing to safety. United ended the first half on top but they were unable to beat Raya, who got down brilliantly to turn Cunha's shot away after a bustling run from the Brazilian. Opportunities were scarce after half-time until Mbeumo sent an ambitious overhead kick wide in the 69th minute, shortly after Amorim introduced Benjamin Sesko for his Premier League debut. United's best chance to equalise came from a floated Dorgu cross in the 74th minute, but Raya scrambled across his line to repel Mbeumo's downward header. Rice saw a free-kick deflect into the side netting but Arsenal spent the final stages desperately defending their lead, with a heroic William Saliba block helping them inch over the line.