Lee Dixon discusses Arsenal stars who struggled the most against Man Utd

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·19 de agosto de 2025

Lee Dixon discusses Arsenal stars who struggled the most against Man Utd

Arsenal opened their league campaign with a narrow but important 1-0 victory over Manchester United. The scoreline suggests a solid start, yet the contest was far from straightforward. United impressed with their performance and arguably merited at least a share of the points.

It was a tightly fought match, with Arsenal struggling to impose themselves, particularly in attacking areas. The Gunners had anticipated a challenging encounter against a United side boasting several new attacking signings, and they knew that anything less than their best would make securing a win extremely difficult.

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Arsenal Tested at Old Trafford

Arsenal’s summer business ensured they not only added quality to their ranks but also retained their most influential players. That stability has allowed them to maintain high standards without overhauling an already competitive squad. Nevertheless, even with their strengthened group, they encountered difficulties throughout the game at Old Trafford.

United introduced three new attackers, two of whom started the fixture, and their energy created consistent problems for the Arsenal defence. The pace, movement and intensity of United’s frontline ensured that the Arsenal backline endured an uncomfortable evening despite eventually holding firm.

Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon observed how demanding the game had been for the defensive unit, particularly for William Saliba, Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori. Speaking to Football Insider, he explained, “Yeah, they did (struggled) a little bit, which was surprising but credit goes to United. They started the game really well. Cunha and Mbeumo were making all sorts of problems for the two centre-backs. Especially Calafiori on the left side, Mbeumo’s positions were really causing him problems.”

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

A Hard-Fought Victory

Despite the challenges, Arsenal ultimately managed to secure the decisive goal and, most importantly, the three points. Victories of this nature, where the performance is below peak level yet the result is achieved, are often considered crucial in title-challenging seasons. They highlight resilience, defensive concentration and the ability to seize key opportunities.

While the contest emphasised areas in which improvement is required, particularly in handling high-intensity attacks, Arsenal will take confidence from beginning their campaign with a win at one of the most difficult grounds in English football. Matches such as these reinforce that even on an off day, the Gunners can find a way to prevail.

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