Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1: Gunners with a win at Old Trafford – As it happened

Forest beat Brentford, Chelsea and Crystal Palace draw at Stamford Bridge

Riccardo Calafiori celebrates scoring against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images
Riccardo Calafiori celebrates scoring against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images
FT – Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1
FT – Chelsea 0 Crystal Palace 0
FT – Nottingham Forest 3 Brentford 1

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“Blazing sunshine and a busy new marquee serving craft ale behind the Stretford End: Manchester United began in a shiny new world and finished in the gloom of another defeat,” Jamie Jackson writes from Old Trafford.

“Arsenal failed to fire throughout – Viktor Gyökeres’s 60-minute debut was a non-event – but they didn’t need to with United so dismal at both ends.”

Read the match report in full below:

Calafiori pounces on Bayindir error as Arsenal grind to win at Manchester UnitedOpens in new window ]

That’s all from me for the evening. Thanks for following along!


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In case you missed it, here’s Calafiori’s early winner for Arsenal.

FT: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Roy Keane’s given his two cents on Arsenal’s win over on Sky Sports.

He looks like a man who’s got a bit of sun.

FT: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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While we wait on the match report, which will be with us shortly, how about some top shots from Old Trafford:

Arsenal's William Saliba applauds fans after the game. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal's William Saliba applauds fans after the game. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal's Mikel Merino and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes compete in the air. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal's Mikel Merino and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes compete in the air. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images
Manchester United's Harry Maguire reacts to a missed chance. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Manchester United's Harry Maguire reacts to a missed chance. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Arsenal's Noni Madueke in action against Manchester United. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal's Noni Madueke in action against Manchester United. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images
Manchester United's new recruit, Slovenian  Benjamin Sesko. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Manchester United's new recruit, Slovenian Benjamin Sesko. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Manchester United's Matheus Cunha and Arsenal's Martin Odegaard exchange words during the game. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Manchester United's Matheus Cunha and Arsenal's Martin Odegaard exchange words during the game. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo reacts to a missed chance. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo reacts to a missed chance. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

FT: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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And that’s the final whistle. Manchester United try hard at the death but can’t find the leveller.

FT: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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United with a corner, could be their last chance.

Almost! Maguire gets to a poor clearance but Raya gets things under control.

90+5 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Six minutes added time to be played.

Saka’s been quiet this half. He shoots from outside the box but De Ligt get his foot to it to send it out for a corner.

90 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Dorgu shown a yellow card for a challenge on Jurrien Timber.

Arsenal setting up very defensively and United not getting the breaks in their own half to launch quick counterattacks to catch the visitors by surprise as they did in the opening half.

If United are to salvage a point they’ll need to unlock something sharpish.

88 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Declan Rice with a free kick which he tries to loop around United’s wall, skimming the outside of the net.

Dorgu catches a slight deflection so it’s an Arsenal corner.

With that Rice makes way for Merino.

82 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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United going for quantity over quality with their attacking efforts hoping something will stick.

Diallo has a halfhearted go but it does little to trouble the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Luke Shaw takes his leave as Harry Maguire emerges off the bench.

77 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Another chance for Mbeumo.

Dorgu sends the cross in and Mbeumo gets up to direct his header to the right bottom corner. Again, Raya makes a good save to deny the leveller.

74 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Cunha cuts through the midfield with a brilliant run to get away from Ben White.

Mbeumo and Diallo both try to get a shot through a crowded Arsenal box to no avail. A second Mbeumo effort proves more dangerous but still no reward.

Two more Arsenal changes. Calafiori off for Lewis-Skelly, Timber replaces White.

73 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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End-to-end play but neither side providing much by way of goalscoring threats.

United introduce the newly arrived Sesko, Mount making way, and Casemiro comes off for Ugarte.

66 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Two changes for Arsenal; Havertz replaces Gyokeres and Martinelli makes way for Madueke.

60 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Pinned in at the corner, Cunha holds on to draw a free.

Fernandes sends the kick into the box where Raya palms it clear.

Dorgu and Diallo combine to keep the attack alive, the former sending a pass deep for Fernandes but there’s too much on it.

58 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Very stop-start opening few minutes to the second half.

Ruben Amorim looks to his bench to liven things up, Diallo comes in for Dalot.

55 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Mason Mount’s having a good outing so far for United.

Luke Shaw finds him with a pass to have a shot on goal but it’s blocked. He tries again on the rebound but drills it right.

48 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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And we’re back. The home side get action back under way.

45 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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A 13th-minute goal from Riccardo Calafiori separates the side’s at the break at Old Trafford.

HT: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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One minute added on to the first half.

United falling asleep at the back but lucky for them a pass from Gyokeres goes astray to go out for a home throw.

And that’s the half-time whistle.

HT: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Yellow for Arsenal’s goalscorer Calafiori.

42 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Arsenal struggling with United’s pacy counter-attacking.

Cunha goes in on goal and manages a decent shot despite a tight angle and pressure from Declan Rice, but Raya puts in an excellent save.

37 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Another dangerous run from United, this time Cunha causing a headache for Arsenal.

The Gunners are under pressure at the back but United just can’t convert.

32 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Chance for Dorgu.

Beautiful strike off the left, has Raya beaten at full extension but he’s denied by the right post.

30 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Good play in the midfield from the hosts.

Odegaard is dispossessed and United are away. Mbeumo makes another run down the middle, Cunha on his shoulder, but he opts to hold it. Lets off the shot under pressure but it pulls right, taking a deflection along the way.

25 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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Free kick for United and Fernandes drills it at Arsenal’s wall.

Down the other end, Rice takes one for the visitors and sails it over to force Bayindir out. The Turkish goalkeeper manages well.

19 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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GOAL ARSENAL.

Calafiori heads it in on the line after United panic under Declan Rice’s dropping corner kick.

Under pressure, Bayindir initially got a hand to the ball but tipped it back to the oncoming Calafiori to head it home.

Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori scores past Manchester United's Altay Bayindir. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori scores past Manchester United's Altay Bayindir. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

13 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1


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From a corner, Fernandes plays it into the box for United where Raya goes up to collect. The goalkeeper plays it out to Odegaard, who finds Saka’s run.

He’s dispossessed with an inch-perfect tackle from Mount.

10 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 0


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Mbeumo with a nice run on goal, beating two Arsenal defenders, but Raya gets his body behind the shot.

7 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 0


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Old Trafford in full voice, clearly in full hope that Ruben Amorim can make his system work this season.

They dominate possession in the opening minutes. Captain Bruno Fernandes steps up for a free kick but it’s flat and easily cleared by Arsenal.

5 MINS: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 0


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Arsenal gets things under way.

0 MIN: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 0


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Nearly time to get under way at Old Trafford. First, a moment’s silence for Diogo Jota and André Silva.


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Just 15 minutes to kick-off at Old Trafford.

A reminder of the starters:

MAN UTD: Bayindir; Dalot, De Ligt, Mount, Fernandes (capt), Cunha, Dorgu, Yoro, Casemiro, Mbeumo, Shaw.

ARSENAL: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard (capt), Saka, Martinelli, Gyokeres.

Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo in action against Newcastle's Joe Willock. Photograph: Carl Recine/Getty Images
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo in action against Newcastle's Joe Willock. Photograph: Carl Recine/Getty Images

On the bench for United is Kobbie Mainoo, once likened to Zinedine Zidane by Paul Scoles but now on the outside looking in.

“Mainoo is at a career crossroads,” Jamie Jackson writes. “As Rúben Amorim becomes the latest manager to try to build United a shiny new world, Mainoo is a mere substitute. Amorim has no place for him in his 3-4-3 formation after a damning assessment that Mainoo lacks legs for the engine room or the pace to operate as one of the two 10s.”

Read Mainoo’s full assessment below:

Little room for Kobbie Mainoo in Rúben Amorim’s vision of a revamped Manchester UnitedOpens in new window ]


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Fans make their way to the stadium prior to Manchester United v Arsenal at Old Trafford. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Fans make their way to the stadium prior to Manchester United v Arsenal at Old Trafford. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

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Full-time at Stamford Bridge and the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest come away with a 3-1 win over Brentford in a tough start to Keith Andrews’ Premier League managerial career, while it ended 0-0 between Chelsea and Crystal Palace.


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Eighty minutes gone in the 2pm kick-offs.

It’s still 0-0 between Chelsea and Crystal Palace, while Brentford have clawed one back against Nottingham Forest to make it 3-1, Igor Thiago converting from the penalty spot.

Igor Thiago celebrates scoring a penalty for Brentford. Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images
Igor Thiago celebrates scoring a penalty for Brentford. Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images

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Just under an hour to go to kick-off at Old Trafford. Here are the starting XIs.


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Speaking of Irish interest, Mary Hannigan has done the leg work in rounding up the dwindling number of Irish players in the Premier League this season.

“This annual scouring of English Premier League squads in advance of a new season inevitably leads to wistfulness about those bygone days when you’d lose count of the number of Republic of Ireland players in the top flight over yonder,” Mary writes. “And never more so than this time around.”

Which Irish players should we look out for in the Premier League this season?Opens in new window ]


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Six games have been played off so far on the 2025/26 Premier League’s opening weekend, starting with Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night.

Here’s how the results have gone so far:

Liverpool 4 Bournemouth 2 (report)

Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0

Brighton 1 Fulham 0

Sunderland 3 West Ham 0

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Burnley 0

Wolves 0 Manchester City 4 (report)

Just one game left on the agenda after today’s trio of fixtures with Leeds hosting Everton tomorrow evening.


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There were two 2pm kick-offs today, Chelsea’s hosting of Crystal Palace and Brentford’s visit to Nottingham Forest.

We’ll keep you posted on those two results. It’s currently nil-all at Stamford Bridge while Forest lead 3-0 at the City Ground with about 10 minutes gone in the second half.

Brentford's Caoimhín Kelleher after Nottingham Forest's third goal. Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images
Brentford's Caoimhín Kelleher after Nottingham Forest's third goal. Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images

Lots of Irish interest in the latter game, Keith Andrews now in charge of the Bees and Caoimhín Kelleher between the posts following his move from Liverpool.

Keith Andrews on getting the Brentford top job: ‘I’m all right with a little bit of scepticism around me’Opens in new window ]


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Hello and welcome along to The Irish Times live blog for Manchester United and Arsenal’s opening game of the new Premier League season.

We’ll have team news and live updates from all the action at Old Trafford, as well as taking a look at the weekend at large, and we’ll wrap things up with a full match report after the final whistle.

The game at Old Trafford kicks off at 4.30pm.