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Arsenal snuck a narrow 1-0 victory over Manchester United to make the perfect start to their Premier League campaign at Old Trafford.
Big-money signings Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi made their top-flight bows for Mikel Arteta’s side, while United’s fresh-faced trio of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko all got run-outs in their new colours, with the attacking midfield pair of Mbeumo and Cunha starting the encounter, and Sesko handed a substitute cameo.
Riccardo Calafiori opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a typical Arsenal goal from a corner, as he nodded home Declan Rice’s corner as William Saliba penned in United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
However, the visitors struggled to threaten a second, and were instead grateful to their goalkeeper for preserving their lead.
Raya was on hand to deny Matheus Cunha a number of times throughout, including a superb save down low to his left as the Brazilian wriggled free down the left channel and dug out a strike that seemed headed for the far corner.
He was also at full stretch to keep out Bryan Mbeumo’s header from point-blank range as the Cameroonian made contact with Patrick Dorgu’s delicious delivery.
Dorgu himself was the only United player to beat the Arsenal keeper as he struck the foot of the post with an arrowed effort.
On the new striker front, both Gyokeres and Sesko were starved of any gilt-edged goalscoring opportunities, but with the season just dawning, you would imagine that they will have plenty of those as the campaign unfolds.
