Ruben Amorim has had a busy first few days in charge at Manchester United, which went from a draw away at Ipswich, to 2 convincing victories in the Europa League and Premier League clashes against Bodo/Glimt and Everton. The away trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal however brought about the toughest test Amorim has faced as United manager, and despite already facing Arsenal with his Sporting team earlier in the season, it was a testing game which exposed some major flaws in the players at his disposal.

With the manager essentially being forced to trial and error with his selections and squad given the period in which he arrived at Old Trafford, the tweaks made meant we saw a different United than the win over Everton, with Rashford and Zirkzee being left on the bench in place of Mount and Garnacho. There were some other tweaks throughout with Malacia starting ahead of Amad in the wing-back role due to his more defensive minded approach to this clash.

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Teams

Amorim opted for a slightly rotated XI for his first ‘elite’ opponent as he decided to start with 2 more defensive minded wing-backs in Dalot and Malacia who started his first game in a long time. It was also a starting front 3 of Mount-Garnacho-Hojlund, however this was changed midway through the second half as United tried to recover after going a goal down.

For Arsenal, they had most of their key players available, however the notable absentee of Gabriel meant Kiwior started in the centre back role, and started with Zinchenko in the left back spot. The key figures of Rice and Saka performed their set-piece duties to perfection which allowed Arsenal to leave the attacking re-enforcements on the bench.

Arsenal: Raya, Zinchenko (Merino 71′), Kiwior, Saliba, Timber, Rice, Partey, Odegaard (Jorginho 90′), Martinelli (Trossard 71′), Havertz, Saka

Subs: Neto, Heaven, Tierney, Nwaneri, Jesus, Sterling

Manchester United: Onana, Mazraoui, Maguire (Yoro 59′), De Ligt, Malacia (Amad 46′), Fernandes, Ugarte, Dalot, Garnacho (Zirkzee 59′), Mount (Rashford 59′), Hojlund (Antony 79′)

Subs: Bayindir, Kukonki, Casemiro, Eriksen

Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United

Arsenal broke the deadlock early in the second half at the Emirates, taking the lead in the 54th minute when Jurrien Timber nodded in from a Declan Rice delivery from a corner. Timber’s goal, his first for the club, arrived via a deft flick at the near post and showcased Arsenal’s growing proficiency from set pieces. The hosts had struggled to fashion clear chances during a subdued first half, with Manchester United’s midfield maintaining disciplined shape, but the game was given new life once Arsenal’s aerial prowess came into play.

United nearly responded immediately after conceding, earning a set‑piece of their own, but Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya produced an outstanding fingertip save to deny a powerful header from Matthijs de Ligt. Arsenal doubled their advantage in the 73rd minute courtesy of another corner routine as Thomas Partey’s header from a Bukayo Saka corner cannoned in off William Saliba, extending their remarkable run of scoring from corners under Arteta.

This victory marks Arsenal’s fourth successive league win over Manchester United at the Emirates, and tightens the title race with the success moving them joint‑second in the Premier League, now just seven points behind leaders Liverpool and level on points with Chelsea. For Manchester United and newly appointed manager Ruben Amorim, it was a tough night with their first defeat under his leadership and a stark reminder of the gulf Arsenal have been able to establish from set-piece situations and within their understanding of a system set by their manager.

Talking Points

Ruben Amorim suffered his first defeat as Manchester United manager in a frustrating night at the Emirates, where Arsenal outmuscled his side in key moments to earn a 2–0 victory. Despite United showing more cohesion in spells than in previous months, the result laid bare the scale of the task ahead for Amorim. His side lacked edge in the final third and failed to respond effectively after conceding, with a flat second-half display that saw them pinned back and vulnerable to Arsenal’s increasingly rehearsed set-piece routines. For Amorim, who had overseen two encouraging results since taking over, this was a setback that highlighted the fine margins at the elite level.

The defining narrative of the night was United’s continued fragility at defensive set pieces, an issue that has plagued them throughout the campaign. Both Arsenal goals came directly from corners. The first via a clever near-post flick from Jurrien Timber, the second bundled home by William Saliba after chaos in the six-yard box. United’s zonal marking system looked disjointed, with key aerial threats like Gabriel and Rice consistently finding space. It marked the 13th and 14th goals United have conceded from set plays this season, an alarming statistic that underlines a systemic weakness Amorim will need to address urgently.

Amorim’s attempts to rotate and assess his squad added another layer to the evening’s story. He handed rare starts to Mason Mount and Tyrell Malacia, while moving Zirkzee, Rashford and Amad to the bench. The changes were clearly aimed at evaluating fit and chemistry ahead of the busy winter period, but the cohesion wasn’t there and Arsenal consistently outnumbered and outmanoeuvred United. With the fixture list tightening, Amorim faces the delicate balancing act of establishing a settled core while continuing to experiment with roles and partnerships. This defeat won’t define his reign, but it sharpens the focus on what’s still to be resolved.