‘Big win’ for ‘resilient’ Arsenal but work to do for new-look Gunners

Arsenal have three points and a win at Old Trafford to start the season, but it has already sparked discussion about what the future holds for the team.

The ability to produce a result even when not playing well could be a big thing for the Gunners as they aim to win a trophy this season, despite Mikel Arteta admitting that his side were not at their best and that this was their first game of the campaign.

Arsenal faced a significant back-up battle against Manchester United, who had 61% possession and 22 shots in the first half of the game while the visitors were able to hold them at bay.

As they try to make the most of Viktor Gyokeres’ £64 million striker, Arsenal have adopted a new, more direct style of play this season.

Gyokeres appeared to lack match fitness, and despite Arteta saying the forward “did a lot of things very well,” he added that he and his staff must “work on” Gyokeres’ pressing.

Arteta added that their team missed “seven or eight situations when the ball is completely open play through” to attack the goal because they did not make enough of the opportunity to play the ball behind the United defense, which would have demonstrated Gyokeres’ qualities.

For the first time since April 2023, Gyokeres played for Coventry City against Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, putting an end to a 69-game winning streak.

It takes time for Arsenal to get used to the new striker’s runs because they have been using a striker in Kai Havertz that is very different from Gyokeres. Speaking on Sky, Daniel Sturridge said.

He will also have to alter his game; both him and the team will change for him. That is what makes a business successful.

Due to his unpredictable play, match-winner Riccardo Calafiori was chosen at left-back, but his forward runs allowed Bryan Mbeumo to start the United attack without problems.

Since set-piece coach Nicolas Jover took over in 2021, Arsenal have gained a reputation for their threat from dead-ball situations and have excelled at them.

Since Calafiori started scoring from corners in 2023-24, Liverpool is the team’s 31st goal of the season, with 20 being the next highest scorers.

Five players were positioned along the edge of the penalty area as a new routine was introduced during the pre-season, leading to the goal, before the ball was swung in.

After the full-time whistle, the Arsenal players celebrated in front of their supporters, and BBC Sport asked Arteta in his press conference whether the team’s victory was a positive one.

“That certainly gives you confidence and momentum.” Two very significant things, according to Arteta.

“We can still come away with a winning strategy.” The team must be able to demonstrate that resilience over the course of the season, over and over again.

Of course, there are many things that need to be improved, and that will start very soon, but able to do that in a way that is great is to achieve that.

Clinton Morrison, a former Crystal Palace and Republic of Ireland striker, believes that the attributes Arsenal displayed could indicate a successful season.

He said, “A champions are born when you don’t play well and still get three points.”

The difference was the goalie,” she said. Altay Bayindir made a huge mistake, and David Raya did it admirably.

“Viktor Gyokeres ate scraps,” he said. He finds it challenging. He still has a lot to offer.

Gary Neville, a former Manchester United player and Sky pundit, said that Arsenal had to alter “because of how they played the first half.”

He continued, “The front three, especially the wide players, were not playing this game anywhere near good.”