Arsenal win at Old Trafford with a new set-piece plan

Arsenal use a revamped set-piece to beat Manchester United while United face questions over their goalkeeper setup

Arsenal win at Old Trafford with new set piece and United goalie troubles

Arsenal edged Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford thanks to a revamped set-piece routine. Riccardo Calafiori headed Declan Rice’s corner home in the 13th minute after Altay Bayindir failed to claim the ball cleanly. United responded with a post from Patrick Dorgu and a late fingertip save from David Raya to deny Matheus Cunha. Viktor Gyokeres started for Arsenal and lasted almost an hour but did not have the all‑round impact he would have hoped for, while United brought on Benjamin Sesko late on to try to alter the flow of the game.

Arsenal’s new approach to set pieces has a track record of danger, and this time it bore fruit again. Five players lined up at the edge of the box before the corner, with two runners breaking into the heart of the danger area to pull attention away from the back post. The goal came from that central bundle, exposing Bayindir at the back post and showing why Arsenal have been among the league’s most dangerous teams from set pieces since Nicolas Jover joined the club. United’s opening spell was sturdy enough, and Raya’s sharp reflexes preserved the lead as they pressed for an equaliser while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s old side in training finally looked a step ahead in intensity and transition.

Arsenal are leaning into a specific strength and it is yielding results early in the season. Their set-piece routine is not just a trick; it is a deliberate system that multiplies threat when space opens at the edge of the box. Yet the performance was not flawless. Gyokeres showed willingness and movement but struggled to convert chances, and United’s plan to play a more physical 3-4-3 under Amorim was evident in the improved duels and quicker transitions. The bigger test will come in away games where opposition managers can copy the blueprint and pack the six-yard box. The Guardian of this balance is goalkeeper reliability, a Achilles heel for United that could determine how quickly Amorim can stabilise the side.

The bigger question for United remains the goalkeeping situation. Onana has been limited in training and Bayindir has come under scrutiny for his handling and long passing. If this problem persists, the club may need a decisive move in the transfer window to restore confidence around the goal. For Arsenal, the focus shifts to whether Gyokeres and Sesko can sustain form and pace across a busy schedule, and whether the team can keep translating set-piece superiority into league points over the long season.

Highlights

The season is young and the stories are just beginning