This weekend’s fixtures are the reverse of a first round that saw Arsenal win at Old Trafford and Sunderland start with a bang
Start-of-season shape:
Arsenal The arrival of six new players in July, including Viktor Gyökeres to fill the void at centre-forward, meant Mikel Arteta’s squad looked well equipped to challenge for the title once again and, even, go one better than second. Optimism was somewhat checked by controversy, however, following the allegations surrounding Thomas Partey and Arsenal’s decision to offer the midfielder a new contract.
Manchester United Ruben Amorim’s first full campaign in charge promised much after a summer in which three new attackers had been signed – Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. However, the lack of any midfield arrivals alongside lingering concerns about the head coach’s rigid tactical approach meant supporters were also somewhat apprehensive.
What happened …
