Manchester United’s new era under Ruben Amorim began with disappointment on the scoresheet but flashes of promise on the pitch. A 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford may not have delivered points, but the Portuguese manager left the stadium convinced his side had proven they can stand toe-to-toe with England’s elite.
Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori delivered the decisive blow, capitalizing on a misstep by stand-in goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. United dominated large spells, firing 22 shots and controlling over 60 percent possession, yet failed to crack a defense that has conceded fewer goals than anyone else in the Premier League across the last two seasons.
Amorim’s new-look attacking trio — Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and late substitute Benjamin Sesko — could not find the net on their debut outing together, despite the club’s £200 million investment in firepower. Their struggles echoed last season’s shortcomings, when United scored just 44 times in 38 league matches, limping to a 15th-place finish — the club’s lowest in more than half a century.
But while the outcome looked grim on paper, Amorim’s post-match words carried conviction.
“We need results, but the difference from last season is clear,” he said. “We controlled the game, we were the better side. It hurts to lose, but I’m proud of the performance. If we keep playing like this, we can beat anyone in this league.”
For a club desperate to turn the page after years of decline, the sense of optimism may be as important as points in August. United’s faithful, long starved of momentum, saw glimpses of a team capable of fighting their way back into the upper tiers of English football.
