Arsenal and Manchester United are set to lock horns in their first Premier League fixture of the season and Gary Neville is somewhat glad this is the case.
Arsenal vs Manchester United is one of the biggest fixtures in world football and, as luck would have it, their first clash of 2025/26 takes place on matchweek 1.
The Gunners have been head and shoulders above Man United for some time now, and they will be favourites to win even though the game is at Old Trafford.
Despite some Man United fans fearing the prospect of Arsenal as their first game of the season, Neville says there’s a reason he’s glad.
Gary Neville says Manchester United need ‘something big’ to start their campaign
Gary Neville was speaking alongside fellow pundits Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards as they looked ahead to the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The Man United legend wasn’t particularly bullish about his former side’s chances in the Premier League, saying he expects them to finish seventh or eighth.
However, Neville hoped for a top-six finish and he suggested a baptism of fire would be a good thing for the Red Devils to see how they are at this moment in time.
“Does it feel like a big start that that first game against Arsenal?” Neville was asked, as per Hayters TV.
“I’m glad they got that start,” Neville replied and, when asked why, he said: “I just think they need something big.”
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How Arsenal could line up against Manchester United
Providing all of Mikel Arteta’s players are available, then the starting XI pretty much picks itself, save for maybe one position.
David Raya would be in goal, with a back four of Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber in front of him.
Arsenal fans were so impressed with Calafiori against Athletic Bilbao that they deemed him a “unicorn”.
Likewise, Arsenal fans were stunned by the Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice pivot, which really took the game to Athletic.
The one position that could be up for grabs is the left wing, with Noni Madueke potentially up against Gabriel Martinelli.
Elsewhere, Viktor Gyokeres is expected to lead the line, and Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka should complete the XI.
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