'big Win' For 'resilient' Arsenal But Work To Do For New-look Gunners

Arsenal person started their play pinch 3 points and a triumph astatine Old Trafford, but their capacity has led to a chat astir what their play could hold.

Mikel Arteta accepted his broadside were not astatine their champion and it is only nan first crippled of nan campaign, pinch caller players settling successful - but nan expertise to get a consequence moreover erstwhile not playing good could beryllium a large point for nan Gunners arsenic they look to triumph a trophy this season.

Manchester United pinned Arsenal backmost for ample parts of nan match, had 61% possession and 22 shots arsenic they looked to get backmost level - but nan visitors managed to support them astatine bay.

Arsenal looked uncharacteristically unfastened astatine times successful nan first half, pinch Arteta highly animated successful his method area.

Arsenal person travel into this play pinch a new, much direct, style of play arsenic they look to get nan champion retired of £64m striker Viktor Gyokeres.

However, Gyokeres looked for illustration he was lacking successful lucifer fittingness and contempt Arteta saying that nan guardant "did a batch of things very good" he added that he and his unit person to "work on" Gyokeres' pressing.

Arteta besides said his broadside did not make capable of nan chance to play nan shot down nan United defence, thing that would person shown Gyokeres' qualities, and they missed "seven aliases 8 situations erstwhile nan shot is wholly unfastened to play through" to onslaught nan goal.

Gyokeres grounded to person a azygous changeable successful a convention crippled for nan first clip since April 2023, erstwhile he played for Coventry City against Blackburn Rovers successful nan Championship, ending a 69-match run.

"Arsenal person been playing pinch a striker successful Kai Havertz that is very different to Gyokeres, truthful it does return clip to get utilized to nan caller player's runs." Daniel Sturridge said speaking connected Sky.

"He is besides going to person to change his game, it's not conscionable astir nan squad changing for him but him changing for nan team. That's what it takes to deed nan crushed running."

Match-winner Riccardo Calafiori was selected astatine left-back for his unpredictability successful onslaught but his guardant runs near Bryan Mbeumo free, and that allowed nan United onslaught to origin problems.

There was besides a first commencement for Martin Zubimendi successful midfield, and he lined up alongside Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, but nan trio look arsenic though they request much clip to click.

Arsenal person go renowned for their threat from dead-ball situations and excelled astatine them since set-piece coach Nicolas Jover joined successful 2021.

Calafiori's extremity was their 31st extremity from corners since nan commencement of 2023-24, pinch Liverpool nan adjacent highest scorers successful that clip pinch 20.

The extremity came from a caller regular that they tried during pre-season, pinch 5 players lined up on nan separator of nan punishment area earlier nan shot was swung in.

The Gunners onslaught did not click during nan lucifer and Arteta will beryllium gladsome that their set-piece prowess sewage them an important opening-day 3 points.

The Arsenal players celebrated successful beforehand of their fans aft nan full-time whistle and Arteta was asked by BBC Sport successful his property convention whether he tin return a affirmative successful nan mode they won nan game.

"That gives you surely momentum and confidence. Two very important things," Arteta said.

"We tin still travel distant and find a measurement to triumph nan game. The squad has to find that resilience passim nan play for 10 months, successful different contexts, to beryllium capable to do that.

"Of people we person to amended a batch of things, and that will hap very soon, but successful position of managing to get that into a very affirmative consequence that is simply a awesome measurement to do it."

Former Crystal Palace and Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison, speaking connected BBC Radio 5 Live, thinks nan qualities Arsenal showed could beryllium a motion of a play of success.

He said: "That's nan motion of champions erstwhile you don't play good and still get nan 3 points.

"The quality was goalkeepers. David Raya was outstanding, and Altay Bayindir made a immense mistake.

"Viktor Gyokeres fed connected scraps. It is difficult for him. There's still a batch much to travel from him."

Former Manchester United subordinate and Sky pundit Gary Neville said "Arsenal had to change" because of nan measurement they played successful nan first half.

He added: "The beforehand three, particularly nan wide players, were not playing anyplace adjacent bully capable successful this game."

"Arsenal really dug successful and showed a batch of resilience. Arsenal were ne'er astatine their champion but to travel present to Old Trafford, aliases complete to Manchester City, and get 3 points is big."