Mikel Arteta has a tactic up his sleeve that could completely ruin Bryan Mbeumo’s Man Utd debut

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Arsenal kick off their Premier League campaign away at Manchester United next Sunday.

The Gunners will be looking to get off to a flying start as they bid to finally end their trophy drought by winning the English top flight for the first time since 2004.

They’ll be clear favourites to beat the Red Devils, who have strengthened over the summer following a dismal 2024/25 campaign.

Despite Mikel Arteta’s team’s clear superiority over their north-west counterparts, Arsenal failed to beat United in this fixture back in March, with visits to Old Trafford always proving difficult for the North Londoners.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Mikel Arteta should start Jurrien Timber at left-back vs Manchester United

Arsenal were heavily linked with Bryan Mbeumo earlier this summer, but the winger ended up joining Manchester United instead.

United’s marquee summer signing, the Manchester club ended up spending around £70 million on the Cameroonian, a significant fee for a player with one productive season in the Premier League.

Ruben Amorim will no doubt be looking to platform the 25-year-old, building the Red Devils’ attack around him.

Thus, the Gunners must be wary of his threat when they visit Old Trafford on Sunday.

One way in which Arteta could and should look to negate Mbeumo is by starting Jurrien Timber at left-back.

The Dutchman has had an unstable pre-season following ankle surgery, but has returned in time to start the opening game of the campaign.

Better than both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori in one-on-one duels against explosive wide men, he’ll have no problem locking down Mbeumo for 90 minutes.

The aforementioned two may offer more in possession than Timber, but the defensive stability the former Ajax man will bring should be enough to completely nullify United’s most threatening player, which should give the Gunners the platform to stroll to victory in Manchester.

Jurrien Timber will be used at left-back a lot in the 2025/26 season

While Ben White was fit last season, Timber was regularly used as a left-back.

However, when White sustained a serious injury that required surgery, the Netherlands international was solely deployed on the right-hand side of Arsenal’s defence for the rest of the campaign.

With the Englishman now fit and firing again, it’s very possible that Arteta frequently uses Timber on the left.

In certain games, when the opponent boasts a particularly dynamic right-winger, the 24-year-old may be the preferred option to Calafiori and Lewis-Skelly.

In games where Arsenal are trying to break down a low block, one of the two left-footers will likely start, but Timber’s capability of dealing with inverted wingers coming onto their stronger foot makes him an enticing option from the left.

Ultimately, Arsenal have great optionality and flexibility in the full-back areas now, and Arteta should make the most of this.