If history is anything to go by, then Sunday’s opening match of the English Premier League (EPL) between Manchester United and Arsenal Football Clubs at Old Trafford portends danger for Arsenal
Historically, Manchester United have been known as the opening weekend specialists having won the opening day fixtures over the years with 22 victories in a 66.7% success rate and they have, in recent times, played the opening weekend matches at Old Trafford, nine seasons in a row.
For the 2025/26 season which kicks off this week, Manchester United would be hosting Arsenal in the opening weekend only for the second time, the last happening in the 1989/90 season (36 years) ago, when United beat Arsenal 4-1.
The clash which is the stand out fixture in the first week of the new season is already eliciting the usual thrilling feuds, sparking a rivalry that encapsulates the blockbuster meetings of the clubs from their fans across the globe.
Manchester United fans are in an upbeat mood. Who wouldn’t be? At least if historical antecedents favour you. This clash, on Sunday, is only the fourth time the two teams will contest a league fixture in August, with United winning the previous three, including the famous 8-2 walloping and 2011.
However, for Arsenal Football Club and its supporters, history does not play football, as they believe that current realities of the potentials of both clubs give a clue as to what happens on Sunday at Old Trafford.
For a team that has consistently been runners-up of the English Premier league title in three seasons, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, it’s a pointer to the strength, at least, when compared to a Manchester United team that ended the last season on the 15th position, their worst in recent times.
What, however, makes this season opening encounter more interesting and fascinating is that both teams have broken the banks to bolster their teams.
In a move, signifying their intentions to drop the toga of perennial runners-up, Arsenal approached the transfer market with zeal and gusto. They brought in the likes of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad for £51m, Christian Norgaard from Brentford for £15m, Christian Mosquera from Valencia, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Noni Madueke. The star signing was Viktor Gyokores from Sporting Lisbon of Portugal.
Not wanting a repeat of the worst performance of last season, Manchester United with an eye on returning to the top echelon of the league brought in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbuemo, Diego Leon and star striker Benjamin Sesko. Not done yet, the team is still in the hunt for Carlos Baleba to bolster their midfield.
Sunday’s encounter is even more peculiar as two key signings from both sides, Victor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, were wanted by the teams they face in the encounter.
While Arsenal initially wanted Sesko, the player turned them down, preferring to join the Red Devils. On the other hand, Manchester United had eyes on Gyokeres, who had his mind fixed on joining Arsenal. This circumstance will further spur Gyokeres and Sesko to want to outpunch each other during the encounter.
While Arsenal initially wanted Sesko, the player turned them down, preferring to join the Red Devils. On the other hand, Manchester United had eyes on Gyokeres, who had his mind fixed on joining Arsenal. This circumstance will further spur Gyokeres and Sesko to want to outpunch each other during the encounter.
The statistics of both players coming into the encounter on Sunday have further raised the stakes. Viktor Gyokeres scored 39 goals in 33 matches last season with Sporting Lisbon in the Liga Portugal. He took 103 shots in 33 matches in the 2024/25 season, 73 of which were on target. The 1.87cm, twenty seven year old Swedish born player had a shot accuracy rate of 70.87% and a pass completion rate of 73.83%
Benjamin Sesko, on the other hand, plied his trade in the 2024/25 season with RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga, where he started in 30 matches and scored 13 goals. With a height of 1.95 cm, Sesko, the 24 year old Slovenian, showed how good he is in the air, winning 70% of aerial duels during the season.
Sunday’s encounter will be the 245th time Arsenal and Manchester United will be locking horns since 1919. In their last 244 meetings, Arsenal won 90 times, Manchester United won 99 times, while 55 matches had ended in draws. In matches involving both clubs, Manchester United has the record of the longest unbeaten streak of nine games from 1954- 1958 and 1991 – 1995. However, on current strength, Arsenal has the unbeaten streak of six games from 2023 to the present.
Whichever way victory goes on Sunday between both clubs, it will certainly be a pointer to how the teams would fare in the 2025/26 English Premier league season, which promises to be very exciting and extremely competitive.
