Workmanlike Arsenal dig in to cloud new Manchester United dawn
Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori scores the only goal in the English Premier League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford. Pic: AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
MANCHESTER United's brave new dawn was undone by familiar failings as Riccardo Calafiori proved to be an unlikely Old Trafford match-winner.
United have splashed out in excess of £200m largely on new attacking talent in a bid to reinvigorate their quest for silverware under Ruben Amorim.
There were flashes of inspiration from the likes of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in addition to a cameo from Benjamin Sesko to suggest that money has been invested wisely, despite Amorim's side drawing a blank for the 16th time in the last 39 league games.
However it was at the opposite end, with the unwanted return of the defensive frailties of last season that proved to be the hosts' undoing as Arsenal claimed only a fourth win on their last 24 visits here - all of them by a single goal margin.
In front of the watching England head coach Thomas Tuchel, it took less than 13 minutes to burst United's bubble as they shipped a comical opener from Arsenal's first corner of a contest which maintained a pleasing flow throughout.
With five towering team-mates initially stationed on the edge of the area belatedly moving with menace into the six-yard box, there was nothing more complicated from Declan Rice than delivering the set-piece under crossbar.
It should have been a regulation catch for Altay Bayindir, who was deputising for the injured Andre Onana. However, the Turk was horribly weak in his approach, easily impeded by William Saliba as the goalkeeper's ineffectual parry directed the ball to Calafiori to head home from all of a foot out, the full-back's first in the Premier League for seven months.
As poor as they remain in defence, United were fluid in possession and carried a discernible threat going forward in search of an equaliser.
Patrick Dorgu, released down the left by Bruno Fernandes, sent an angled drive beyond David Raya which struck the foot of the keeper's right-hand post.
Matheus Cunha grew into the contest, initially shooting tamely at Raya from 18 yards after a barnstorming foray from his own half saw the bustling Brazilian literally run through three Arsenal defenders before failing to make the most of the presentable chance he had worked so hard to fashion.
Raya, joint winner of the Golden Glove last season, underlined his value to the visitors by applying the faintest of touches to keep out a sharp near post effort on the turn from the increasingly influential Cunha which would otherwise have found its way in at the far post.
In contrast, Arsenal debutant Viktor Gyokeres, who had scored on his four previous opening day appearances for Coventry and Sporting Lisbon, had an afternoon to forget. The Sweden forward was hauled off after an anonymous hour running around to minimal effect in the Manchester sun.
The hosts dominated possession without carving out a whole host of chances and Raya remained the busier of the keepers after the break, getting down well to his left to beat out Mbeumo's powerful header from an inviting Dorgu cross.
United continued to press, but Arsenal are old hands at seeing out narrow victories like this. They coped comfortably enough with what the hosts could throw at them as Amorim's men launched the new campaign with that familiar sinking feeling from last season tin succumbing to their latest defeat.
Bayindir 4; Yoro 6, De Ligt 6, Shaw 7 (Maguire 80, 6); Dalot 5 (Amad 55, 7), Casemiro 6 (Ugarte 65, 6), Fernandes 6, Dorgu 7; Mbeumo 7, Cunha 7, Mount 6 (Sesko 65, 7). Booked: Dorgu
Raya 8; White 7 (Timber 72, 7), Saliba 7, Gabriel 7, Calafiori 8 (Lewis-Skelly 72, 7); Odegaard 7, Zubimendi 5, Rice 6 (Merino 83, 6); Saka 6, Gyokeres 3 (Havertz 60, 5), Martinelli 5 (Madueke 60, 6). Booked: Calafiori, Reya.
Simon Hooper
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