Arsenal kicked off their 2025/26 campaign with a win in the most unlikely of circumstances.
Mikel Arteta’s side took three points back to North London from Old Trafford, as Arsenal won 1-0 thanks to a first-half Riccardo Calafiori header.
The hosts might feel aggrieved not to have got anything from the contest, as Manchester United dominated, but it was the Gunners who emerged victorious.
In a game that was hectic and uncontrolled from an Arsenal point of view, here’s how the players rated.
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Arsenal player ratings vs Manchester United
David Raya – 5.5
Raya started the game erratically; he looked nervous on some occasions, but certainly grew into the contest. Made a superb save to deny Matheus Cunha.
Riccardo Calafiori – 6
Scored, got into great positions both out wide and when inverting, just far too defensively fragile for a full-back.
William Saliba – 5
Saliba was uncharacteristically shaky, made several errors and didn’t appear to be able to anticipate danger at times.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 5.5
Gabriel also looked shaky, with his counterpart’s performance not helping that. The Brazilian still looks a bit rusty, as expected.
Ben White – 5
White wasn’t his usual self on the right side; defensively, he was rather non-existent.
Martin Zubimendi – 6
Seemed to struggle a bit with the physicality of the Premier League, got caught in some challenges; however, was Arsenal’s metronome when in possession, helped to calm a very lively game down.
Declan Rice – 5
In a performance that was very unlike Rice, the midfielder was a bit of a passenger in midfield.
Martin Odegaard – 5.5
Odegaard was good in spells but never really looked as though he’d provide that cutting-edge pass.
Bukayo Saka – 3
A non-existent showing from Saka, he provided almost no threat on the right.
Gabriel Martinelli – 3
Very poor from Martinelli on the left, who seemed to mirror Saka’s lack of threat, a real problem position for Arsenal.
Viktor Gyokeres – 6
Gyokeres can’t be knocked for trying, but the service wasn’t there from those behind him. Looked strong and physically up to the task of the Premier League.
Substitutes
Noni Madueke – 5
Sadly, Madueke didn’t offer any more threat than Martinelli; the new signing was nowhere to be seen in attacking situations.
Kai Havertz – 5.5
Offered some more pace through the middle, but didn’t exactly know how to use it, destroyed the intensity on the counter.
Jurrien Timber – 6
Timber offered Arsenal something that was needed throughout the contest, some defensive spirit, he must return to the starting XI.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 5
Was given the chance to prove himself to be a better fit than Calafiori, but at times, he appeared to be erratic, not adding stability to an already fragile back line.
Mikel Merino – N/A
Came on late to replace Rice.
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