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Bayindir blunder gives Arsenal early lead

Altay Bayindir mishandled a corner as Arsenal score early; Manchester United trail on opening day.

August 17, 2025 at 04:11 PM
blur Whitwell blasts 'abysmal' Altay Bayindir as Man United trail to Arsenal

Altay Bayindir error on an Arsenal corner sets a rocky tone for Manchester United on opening day.

Bayindir blunder haunts United opening day

Manchester United started with confidence and pressed high in the early minutes, with new signings Cunha and Mbeumo driving the attack. Yet the opening goal came from a corner. Declan Rice delivered to the front of the box, Arsenal found a way through and Riccardo Calafiori finished calmly as Bayindir failed to claim. The ball was poorly handled by the goalkeeper and William Saliba outmuscled him to create the chance. The moment sparked memories of last season for United fans who felt the old problem of defending corners had returned.

The incident drew sharp attention from observers. The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell described Bayindir’s effort as abysmal, highlighting how the goalkeeper was beaten to the ball and left exposed by Saliba. The goal gave Arsenal a lead United would chase for the rest of the match. On the managerial side, Ruben Amorim noted that Andre Onana was available but chose to reward players who performed well in pre-season, including Bayindir. That decision invites immediate scrutiny, especially after a costly early error and with questions about depth in the goalkeeping position.

Key Takeaways

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Bayindir’s error directly cost a goal early in the season
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Arsenal punishes a set piece to take the lead
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Manager Amorim faces scrutiny over choosing Onana’s understudy
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New signings Cunha and Mbeumo show promise despite the setback
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Defensive organization on corners will be a priority after opening day
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The opening result will shape early season narratives around goalkeeping
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Fans will reassess depth in United’s squad and the goalkeeper rotation

"Bright start by United undone by another abysmally defended corner. Bayindir showing no strength, gets outmuscled by Saliba to palm ball backwards + is only saved from an own goal by Calafiori nodding in on line. Shades of Spurs last season in Carabao."

Whitwell on the goal incident

"Shades of Spurs last season in Carabao"

Whitwell's tweet react­ing to the goal

"abysmal"

Whitwell describing Bayindir's effort

The episode exposes a broader tension around United’s squad planning. Bayindir was installed with the idea of competition or as a trusted backup, but this slip turns attention to the decision to start him over Onana. It also places a spotlight on set-piece organization and the way the team defends corners under pressure. As the season begins, fans and pundits will watch if the defense tightens and whether Amorim maintains his preferred lineup despite early misgivings. The match also renews a familiar storyline for United fans: can the team translate early-season optimism into reliable performance when a mistake tests resilience?

Highlights

  • Bright start by United undone by another abysmally defended corner
  • Shades of Spurs last season in Carabao
  • Bayindir showing no strength in the challenge on the ball
  • This opening day will shape the season's early narrative

Public reaction risk over goalkeeping decision

The combination of an early costly error and the benching decision around Onana could provoke fan backlash and place added pressure on manager Amorim. It may fuel debates about squad depth and the handling of high pressure moments on opening day.

The season is young and every slip can become a learning moment for a club rebuilding its balance.

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