Fresh Faces Spearhead Man Utd's Arsenal Assault: New Signings Set to Ignite Attack
Arsenal serve as Manchester United's opening adversaries for the 2025–26 Premier League campaign, with both teams clashing at Old Trafford this Sunday afternoon.
Looking to leave their disastrous 2024–25 season behind, the Red Devils are keen to begin strongly in their inaugural complete campaign under Ruben Amorim, though defeating last season's Premier League second-place finishers won't be straightforward.
United will depend on their offensive triumvirate of summer acquisitions for motivation in this weekend's marquee matchup, as Amorim's attacking lineup received substantial reinforcement during the transfer period to address the wastefulness that plagued Old Trafford previously.
Here's how Amorim is expected to arrange his squad to integrate his fresh recruits.
Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Arsenal (3-4-2-1)
GK: André Onana—Amorim has verified that the Cameroonian goalkeeper is fit for the forthcoming encounter after recovering from an injury that sidelined him during pre-season. With Altay Bayındır as the backup option, Onana will quickly return to the first eleven.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt—The Netherlands international has struggled to impress at Old Trafford, and his sophomore campaign with the club will be crucial for his prospects. He's expected to feature on the right side of the three-man defensive unit.
CB: Harry Maguire—Maguire continues as United's defensive captain, with the Red Devils choosing to focus summer spending on attacking reinforcements rather than defensive additions. He faces a stern test against Arsenal newcomer Viktor Gyökeres.
CB: Leny Yoro—Yoro demonstrated flashes of his tremendous promise during a challenging first season in Manchester, with a formidable test awaiting in the form of Gyökeres and Bukayo Saka on Sunday.
RWB: Diogo Dalot—While Amad Diallo remains a wing-back possibility, Arsenal's offensive capabilities might compel Amorim to select the more defensively solid Dalot. A fascinating duel with Gabriel Martinelli awaits at Old Trafford.
CM: Casemiro—Casemiro's resurgence has been remarkable, and he's reclaimed his position as a regular in Amorim's two-man central midfield. United risks being overwhelmed in midfield if the Brazilian isn't operating at peak performance.
CM: Bruno Fernandes—The addition of multiple new attackers suggests Fernandes will likely operate in a deeper position this season, enabling him to control the tempo while requiring increased defensive contributions from the captain.
LWB: Patrick Dorgu—Dorgu has the potential to be a game-changing acquisition for Amorim long-term due to his offensive capabilities along the left wing. Nevertheless, he'll prioritize containing Saka over advancing forward on Sunday.
RF: Bryan Mbeumo—Mbeumo netted his sole goal against Arsenal last campaign and hopes to score his inaugural United goal against them this weekend. The former Brentford star will certainly trouble Arsenal's backline.
ST: Benjamin Šeško—Amorim has stated that Šeško is prepared to spearhead the attack against Arsenal, and United fans will have lofty expectations for the Slovenian's first appearance. Can he outperform his counterpart Gyökeres?
LF: Matheus Cunha—Cunha flourished at Wolverhampton Wanderers and now gets the chance to demonstrate his abilities at an elevated standard. A strong performance on Sunday will help convince United supporters he justifies his £62.5 million price tag.
