How Manchester United Triumphed Over Arsenal in a Pivotal Showdown

East Radford, NJ – Prior to the much-awaited exhibition match against Arsenal, Manchester United’s manager, Erik Ten Haag, made a statement to the media: “We don’t play friendly matches.” The Red Devils, with their solid performance, backed up this claim, defeating the Gunners 2-0 at the newly renovated Metalife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday afternoon.

In the first half, two goals by Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho were enough to secure Manchester United’s third consecutive pre-season shutout victory. Arsenal’s defensive errors played a significant role in both goals. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saw Bruno Fernandes’ shot in front of him but it slipped through his hands and into the net. Arsenal’s center-back Gabriel made a clearance attempt that ended up favoring Jadon Sancho, who took full advantage of the opportunity.

From Manchester United’s end, there seemed to be little reaction from Arsenal, who failed to break through Gabriel Martinelli’s attempts to thwart their early chances. The Gunners struggled to gain control of the game amidst physical challenges and quick changes. The victory was a testament to Manchester United’s competence as they displayed the most effective team and executed their strategies flawlessly. Arsenal’s new signings Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, and Jüriäan Timmer got their debut, but none of them made a significant impact on the match. Mason Mount initiated the scoring for Manchester United, but he was still striving to secure his spot in the starting lineup. New goalkeeper André Onana made his presence felt at the stadium, but a clean sheet eluded him this time.

Match Highlights and Lineups

Both teams will head to the West Coast for their next matches. Manchester United will face Wrexham from San Diego on Tuesday night, while Arsenal is set to take on Barcelona on Wednesday, 26th July, provided that the Spanish club overcomes their current financial issues, which led to the cancellation of their friendly match against Juventus on 22nd July.

Arsenal vs. Manchester United Final Score:

• Arsenal: 0
• Manchester United: 2
  • Goal Scorers:
    • Bruno Fernandes (30′)
    • Jadon Sancho (37′)

Arsenal Starting XI (4-3-3, right to left):

• Ramsdale (GK)
• Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu
• Ødegaard, Rice, Havertz
• Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli

Arsenal Substitutes in Second Half (4-3-3, right to left):

• Ramsdale (GK)
• Timber (White 59′), Saliba (Jorginho 71′), Gabriel, Tierney
• Ødegaard, Rice (Partey 59′), Havertz (Vieira 71′)
• Saka (Smith Rowe 71′), Nketiah (Trossard 71′), Martinelli (Jesus 59′)

Manchester United Starting XI (4-3-3, right to left):

• Heaton (GK)
• Wan-Bissaka, Varane, L. Martínez, Shaw
• Fernandes, Matic, Mount
• Greenwood, Sancho, Garnacho

Manchester United Substitutes in Second Half (4-3-3, right to left):

• Heaton (GK)
• Dalot, Maguire, Lindelöf, Williams
• Ødegaard (Pellestri 59′), Rashford, Forsan

Manchester United Building a Swagger

Erik Ten Haag may have an underlying excuse that his team does not yet have an established goal-scoring center-forward, but he does not seem to exhibit that. This attitude resonates through his team, which seeks to find a way no matter what obstacles they face.

Manchester United approached their clash with Arsenal with a combination of quick changes and direct play, mixing over-the-top through balls with standard attacking build-up. They looked comfortable and confident in every situation. The game started with physicality and solid defending, although Gabriel Martinelli had a good look that he should have done better with. On the attacking front, Jadon Sancho led the charge, but Bruno Fernandes provided crucial support right behind him, resulting in both players finding the net. Wingers like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial did not offer much in terms of a distinct presence, but they still played their roles effectively.

Manchester United’s team spirit is evident, with each player aware of their role and a strong work ethic. It will take time for the likes of Mesan Mount, Lesandro Martinez, and Casemiro to fit into the system, which is already well-established within the team. Even at just 18 years old, midfielder Kobe Mannu fits seamlessly into the squad.

Arsenal Remains a Youthful Team

From a competitive standpoint, Michail Arteta should be concerned about the lack of a strong response from Arsenal, and his players did not exhibit the same level of enthusiasm as their coach did in the press conference after the match. “I hate losing. And we all hate losing,” Arteta said, describing what he learned most from the game. “This is the biggest lesson. I don’t like losing, and I don’t like the feeling that I have right now.” In his opening remarks, he further stated, “It’s a test to see how painful it is to lose a game, even if it’s a friendly match. I want to see how much damage the team is feeling and how they react after the defeat.”

The 5-0 victory against MLS All-Stars on Wednesday night with an assembled squad might have given Arsenal a glimpse of what could be. However, despite a different level of opposition on Saturday, they found that they still have a long way to go. Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz in the starting midfield trio struggled to make a mark on the game, despite some good plays and passes from Ødegaard. This is an area where Arteta knows there’s room for improvement.

Arteta commented, “When they play together 55 times, it will be better, the flow will be better, they will understand each other better, and we will be more effective and better. But it takes time, and we have to respect that. I’ve seen a lot of good things, even more than against MLS All-Stars, though the results were different.”

The Need for Fine-Tuning

Manchester United’s 2-0 win against Arsenal serves as a sign that they have taken a step further than their counterparts. Despite facing a spirited opposition, they realized that they still have a way to go. Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz forming the starting midfield triangle struggled to leave an impact on the game despite some flashes of brilliance from Ødegaard. Arteta knows that there’s work to be done in this area.

He remarked, “When they play together 55 times, it will be better, the flow will be better, they will understand each other better, and we will be more effective and better. But it takes time, and we have to respect that. I’ve seen a lot of good things, even