The loss to Arsenal at Old Trafford underlined the scale of the task facing Ruben Amorim as his first full season begins
A great appeal of football is the myriad pub and parlour opinions any game conjures. In the wake of Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday, social media lit-up with differing takes from those of a United persuasion. The case for optimism featured United’s 22 shots to Arsenal’s eight and the beginnings of what may flower into an on-field bromance between Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. The case for pessimism: a crisis at No 1, with Altay Bayindir’s timidness leading to Riccardo Calafiori’s winner and André Onana’s ongoing flakiness. Then there is the bottom line: United were defeated. As midfielder Casemiro said afterwards: “I’m not going to say that losing is OK; we have to win. Manchester United always has to win. I think we have shown good moments, and we have played much better, but we have to look for the victory.”
Within a few seconds of the game on Sunday, Mbeumo charged down the right wing and then picked out Cunha after hearing the yells of his fellow No 10. Here, then, was a glimpse of how the new boys may gel beyond the weekend, which would have been heartening to see for all United fans. Mbeumo’s skill-set features a killer touch, a cut-throat running ability, a calibrated pass radar and an eye for a shot. Cunha has the same abilities as well as an ability to purr past opponents, as he did in one game-breaking run during the first half. And operating as a No 9, the Brazilian also showed he can be a differing option in that position to Benjamin Sesko. Yet neither Mbeumo or Cunha scored, spurning a slew of chances. This has to be fixed.
