Manchester United v Arsenal – Line-ups, stats and preview

Match Preview for Manchester United v Arsenal

The opening Premier League weekend has served up a blockbuster encounter as Manchester United take on Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The two sides used to go toe-to-toe for the title each season in years gone by but that goal only seems realistic for one of them heading into the 2025/26 season.

Arsenal will be hoping to finally go one better under Mikel Arteta after three consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League, while returning to competing in the top half would be considered a success for thr Red Devils after a finishing last season in 15th.

Still, manager Ruben Amorim will be hoping this season is a fresh start for the club after refreshing his squad with a number of new signings this summer, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko revamping United’s forward line.

Arsenal have also been busy in the transfer window, landing striker Viktor Gyokeres and talented midfielder Martin Zubimendi alongside Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard, Christian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Arsenal finished a whopping 32 points ahead of Sunday’s opponents last season but they played out a 1-1 draw in this fixture last season. In fact, United have lost only two of the last 18 meetings with the Gunners at Old Trafford, although both those defeats have come with Arteta in charge of the North Londoners.

Team news for Manchester United v Arsenal

New signings Sesko, Cunha and Mbeumo could all make their Premier League debuts at Old Trafford after Amorim confirmed the trio are fit to start the game.

Of the three, Sesko may be the one not yet ready for a full 90 minutes having not featured in a game since coming on as a second-half substitute for RB Leipzig against Toulouse in July prior to his £74million move.

If Sesko starts on the bench, then it could be Mason Mount who benefits in one of the attacking midfield positions, which would likely see Cunha start up front.

Noussair Mazraoui has been ruled out of the clash, with Lisandro Martinez a long-term absentee.

Arsenal could also start their new man up top with Gyokeres featuring in a number of pre-season friendlies as he looks to provide the cutting edge they have been lacking in recent seasons.

Bukayo Saka is also nailed on to start, with new signing Zubimendi set to start alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield.

Predicted line-ups for Manchester United v Arsenal

How to watch Manchester United v Arsenal: TV channel, stream

The stats for Manchester United v Arsenal

• Manchester United have lost just two of their last 18 Premier League home games against Arsenal (W10 D6), though both defeats have been with Mikel Arteta in charge of the Gunners (1-0 in both November 2020 and May 2024).
• Arsenal have scored in each of their last 11 Premier League away games against Manchester United (14 goals), having only managed to score in 10 of their first 22 visits to Old Trafford in the competition (11 goals).
• Manchester United have won 99 of their 243 meetings with Arsenal in all competitions (D55 L89). They’ve only beaten Aston Villa (107) more often, while they would be the first ever team to beat the Gunners 100 times.
• This is just the second time in English league history Manchester United are hosting Arsenal in their first game of the season, previously beating the Gunners 4-1 in 1989-90.
• Man Utd have won their opening match of a Premier League campaign more often than any other side (22), while also having the best win rate on MD1 of any side to play in more than one season (67%).

Prediction for Manchester United v Arsenal

A tough fixture to call on the first day of the season, with encounters between two such a established clubs usually hard to call even despite United’s struggles.

Both teams will be desperate to make a statement for differing reasons but we could have another tight affair between these two.

Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal