Manchester United v Arsenal: Premier League – live | Soccer

A reminder of the teams

Man Utd (3-4-2-1) Bayindir; Yoro, From Ligt, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernand, Dorgu; Should, Mount; Cunha.
Subs: Heaton, Fredericson, Heaven, Maguire, Mainoo, Ugarte, Amad, Zirkzee, Sesko.

Arsenal (4-3-3) Raya; White, salba, Gabriel, Cafarori; Odegarard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Timber, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard, Madueke, Havertz.

Referee Simon Hooper

“Well,” says Charles Antaki, “I’ve done my bit: the altar dusted down and polished, votive candles lit, Tibetan prayer wheel given a hearty spin and the computer screen orientated south-south-east. it’s all up to Mick Arteta and the boys now. Thoughts and prayers. Also, please, goals.”

Plural. Interesting.

We’re at home and we want to get three points. We know that everything is not going to change in four weeks but we have made steps that are really important for the future.

[On Benjamin Sesko’s role as substitute] We picked the starting XI thinking also about the end of the game, so we need to balance that. Ben had a very good week but it’s just one week. We have to remember that there’s a lot of emotion – changing countries, culture, working with new people. The first impression is really important so let the guy settle down. He’s ready to help us in the game.

[On the absence of Onana and Hojlund from the squad] It’s an option. It’s an option. We tried to choose the best players for each game. Next week it’s a different life.

[Is Onana injured?] No, he recovered, but the other guys did so well during pre-season, so I need to balance that.

I’m very excited about the season. We start with a great opportunity at Old Trafford. I know what this game will demand but I’m very excited about what’s coming. What a place to play the first game; we’re ready for it.

[On Viktor Gyokeres] Goals are his main quality. He brings a fear factor as well – it’s not just his ability to put the ball in the back of the net but the feeling he creates in the opposition.

Andy Brassell Profiles ‘Big’ Benjamin Seskowho will surely be involved from the bench at some stage.

Championship match report

Two of last season’s relegated teams met at Portman Road this afternoon. It finds Ipswich 1-1 Southampton, and you can read all about it here.

8th, 8th, 5th, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, ??

Jamie Jackson explores the curious case of the marginalised Mainoo

ViktorArsenal’s new centre-forward, goes straight into the starting XI. Martin Zubimendi also starts in midfield, with Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera on the bench.

Riccardo Calafuri and Ben White are preferred to Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jurrien Timber at full-back. In recent years Arsenal have been criticised for their bench strength. Not today.

Arsenal (4-3-3) Raya; White, salba, Gabriel, Cafarori; Odegarard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Timber, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard, Madueke, Havertz.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha start, Benjamin Sesko is on the bench. Rasmus Hojlund isn’t in the squad.

Mason Mount is also included, probably as the left-sided No10 with Bruno Fernandes playing deeper. That said, Sky have the United team with Mount as a false nine. With Andre Onana still recovering from a hamstring injury [edit: that’s not the case, see Ruben Amorim’s pre-match interview], Altay Bayindir is in goal.

Man Utd (3-4-2-1) Bayindir; Yoro, From Ligt, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernand, Dorgu; Should, Mount; Cunha.
Subs: Heaton, Fredericson, Heaven, Maguire, Mainoo, Ugarte, Amad, Zirkzee, Sesko.

Hello, hello and welcome to live coverage of Manchester United v Arsenal at Old Trafford. Broadly, there are two ways to view this game:

1. It’s the game of the weekend, a humdinger between two of English football’s Holy Trinity. A perfect way to start the season!

2. It’s 15th v 2nd based on last season’s league table. Why’s everyone getting so excited?

We’re in camp 1. The thought of an unenticing match between Manchester United and Arsenal at any stage of the season does not compute. And this isn’t any stage: it’s the opening weekend, a window in time when everything is hope and hope is everything.

Right now Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, Bryan Mbuemo, Martin Zubimendi and all the other new signings exist solely in the imagination of supporter, silhouettes of football perfection who will take United and Arsenal to the next level.

The last time these two met on the opening weekend was 36 years ago – Michael Knighton, Neil Webb and all that – so this is kind of a big deal. That 1989 match, won 4-1 by a United side who soon fell into a relegation battle, is a reminder that we shouldn’t get carried away with today’s result.

That’s exactly what we’ll be doing, isn’t it.

Kick off 4.30pm.