Arsenal might have secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, but the performance raised questions about the team’s quality and consistency. Bukayo Saka, one of Arsenal’s standout players, candidly admitted that the team fell short of its usual standards, calling for significant improvements to maintain competitiveness in future matches.
A Hard-Earned Win
The winning goal, scored in the 13th minute by Riccardo Calafiori, came after United’s goalkeeper Altay Bayindir inadvertently knocked a Declan Rice corner onto the Arsenal defender’s head. Despite the early lead, Arsenal struggled to dominate the game. United had a remarkable 61.9% possession and 22 shots compared to Arsenal’s mere nine. Arsenal’s inefficiency stood out even more against United’s offensive pressure.
Saka reflected on the performance, saying, “It was not a great performance. We were not up to our usual standards, the basics, sloppy giveaways. Our decision-making was not great and that cost us and gave United a lot of momentum. We did not get punished for it, but we cannot do it every game.”
Challenges for New Players
There was significant attention on Viktor Gyökeres, the team’s latest £65 million recruit, who had a subdued debut in the Premier League. Substituted after 60 minutes, Gyökeres did not make the sort of impact fans were hoping for. However, Saka backed the Swedish striker, stating, “I was impressed with him and he battled for us. His performance gives us something to build on and I am sure it will help him next week.”
A Call for Better Decision-Making
Goalkeeper David Raya echoed Saka’s critique, highlighting the errors in Arsenal’s gameplay. “[It’s] a difficult place to come and get the three points and a clean sheet,” he admitted. “But we know it wasn’t good enough with the ball and we made a lot of mistakes, so there’s a lot of things to improve.”
Raya commended the team’s spirit and fight, especially during the game’s final moments when Manchester United applied intense pressure. “[It’s] the willingness [that’s important], the fight, the spirit that we have altogether… everybody’s sprinting back and trying to help the teammate that’s made a mistake to recover the ball and to do the right thing,” he added.
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Looking Ahead
Arsenal’s win provides a platform to build on but also serves as a wake-up call. With tighter competition and a packed schedule ahead, their ability to make swift corrections in strategy and execution could define their success this season. Fans and players alike will be hoping that matches like this serve as a stepping stone rather than a red flag.
