🔊 Will the marquee match of the Premier League's opening round deliver quality football? On August 17th, Manchester United and Arsenal will kick off the new season at Old Trafford. Both clubs have splashed over €200 million on new signings this summer. The Gunners, unlike the Red Devils, have been consistent for several years now, making them the favorites even on the road, despite some lackluster performances in recent friendlies. In our prediction, we'll explore Manchester United's chances of surprising the Londoners on their home turf.

Head-to-Head

📊 Last season, the teams clashed three times, and United never came out on top in regular time—only prevailing in a penalty shootout during the 3rd round of the FA Cup. However, in the Premier League, the Red Devils managed to hold the Gunners to a draw at Old Trafford (1-1). It's worth noting that this trend has been ongoing for quite some time. Arsenal have failed to defeat Manchester in 16 of their last 18 away matches in the Premier League.

Manchester United Team Overview

😈 United had a disappointing last season. Ruben Amorim took charge in November but couldn't turn things around, setting several negative records. The only bright spot was their Europa League campaign. However, even there, the "Red Devils" fell short, losing to Tottenham (0-1) in the final, meaning they'll miss out on European competitions this season.

📝 Expectations for Manchester are sky-high, especially given their massive spending. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko—three transfers each costing over €70 million. Such investments need to be justified. So far, they seem to be on the right track, at least judging by their preseason results—undefeated and victorious in the Premier League Summer Series.

Arsenal Team Overview

🔴 The Gunners, despite missing out on silverware, delivered a solid season. They finished as runners-up in the Premier League once again and reached the semifinals of the Champions League, where they narrowly lost to future winners PSG (0-1; 1-2). However, both the club's management and fans expect more from Mikel Arteta—they are eager for major trophies.

📝 The manager is backed in the transfer market. Like Manchester United, Arsenal completed three high-profile signings—Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, and Viktor Gyökeres, with a total expenditure of nearly €192 million. To add depth to the squad, they also brought in Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Nørgaard, and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Notably, Gyökeres has already scored his debut goal in a match against Athletic (3-0).

Latest news

Manchester United

💰 Manchester United have not yet satisfied their transfer cravings. Fabrizio Romano reports that the club is preparing a bid for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. If this move falls through, some sources suggest Sporting's captain Morten Hjulmand as an alternative option.

❌ United face several key absences ahead of the season's start. Lisandro Martinez is still recovering from a cruciate ligament tear, while Noussair Mazraoui and Andre Onana, who missed all the pre-season friendlies, have returned to training but are unlikely to be match-fit.

Arsenal

🎙 Arsenal legend Tony Adams has suggested that Declan Rice should take over as captain from Martin Ødegaard. Mikel Arteta responded, "My stance is clear, and it reflects the views of both the staff and players. There was a vote for the captaincy, and Martin Ødegaard was chosen by a significant majority."

❌ Arsenal head to Old Trafford nearly at full strength. The only absentee is Gabriel Jesus, who has been sidelined for some time with a knee injury. Leandro Trossard had also picked up a knock, but according to Mikel Arteta, the Belgian is ready to play.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The match will be officiated by a team of referees led by Simon Hooper. The Englishman is known for his strict style, averaging 4.7 yellow cards per game over his last 10 Premier League appearances.

As for today's opponents, their matches also tend to feature a fair share of bookings: 3.8 for United and 4 for Arsenal. Their head-to-head clashes are often emotional and card-heavy, so we suggest a bet on over 3.5 yellow cards.

⚽️ Goal Predictions

When considering goal bets, it's hard to ignore the trend that sees Man United conceding in the second half in 8 of their last 9 meetings with Arsenal. Adding to this, the Gunners have scored after the break in five consecutive official matches, making a bet on an Arsenal goal in the second half quite appealing.

🚩 Corner Predictions

Bookmakers view Manchester as underdogs, but in their first home game of the season, they will undoubtedly push forward in search of opportunities. The Red Devils have delivered at least 4 corners in 8 of their last 9 Premier League home matches, which we expect to continue. The bet here is on over 3.5 corners from the hosts.

Considering last season's performances, Arsenal are understandably the favorites. However, it's time to move on from last season as a new one is upon us, and we believe the Gunners face a tough challenge ahead. Trips to Old Trafford traditionally result in dropped points for them, and there's little to suggest that this trend will change anytime soon. At the "Theatre of Dreams," Manchester can put up a fight against any team, even when not in top form. Currently, the Red Devils are buoyed by their success in friendly matches, which adds to their confidence. Therefore, we dare to predict a 1-1 draw as the outcome of this encounter. Based on this, our main bet is both teams to score (yes), a bet that has come through in seven of Arsenal's last eight away games.