New signings expected to fire up Old Trafford when Gunners visit
WITH every start to the Premier League season comes renewed hopes.
For Manchester United, they will be hopeful they can fare better than the 15th spot they ended up at last season.
Kicking off their new season, Ruben Amorim will need to ensure that his side is ready when they host last season’s runners-up Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Having brought in some good players, the real “Amorim’s team” is starting to take shape.
Up front, it should consist of the three new acquisitions made in the current transfer window, namely Matheus Cunha from Wolves, Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford and Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.
All three were top league scorers with their respective clubs last season.
With Andre Onana still believed to be injured, Altay Bayındır will most likely start between the sticks.
In the defensive line, it could likely be the trio of Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, with Amad Diallo, Manuel Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes and Patrick Dorgu in midfield.
This is United’s strongest side they could set out, unless further reinforcements are added.
There have been talks that Brighton’s defensive midfield Carlos Baleba and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of Paris St-Germain are possible targets for the Red Devils.
Man United will, however, have to find ways to raise funds for both players.
Brighton are said to want at least £100mil (RM571.6mil) for the Cameroonian while the Italian could be signed for much less, following reports that talks with the French club have broken down over an extension of his contract.
Donnarumma, who is also being eyed by Man City, would be an immediate upgrade to either Onana or Bayindir, although there are concerns whether he could fit into Amorim’s system.
The Portuguese manager prefers a keeper that is good with the ball at his feet, which can be a weakness of Donnarumma.
Arsenal have also recruited well, finally getting a striker, which was said to be the missing piece of their jigsaw in their hunt for Premier League glory.
In Viktor Gyokeres (pic), the Gunners are getting a prolific goalscorer, having scored 39 goals for Sporting CP in the Portuguese Primeira Liga last season.
Mikel Arteta also welcomed fellow Spaniard Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad – the player who snubbed Liverpool in January.
Gyokeres will surely be in the starting line-up alongside Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli up front, while Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard will be in midfield.
The backline should consist of Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Myles Lewis-Skelly, with David Raya in goal.
Going into the mouth-watering clash, Arsenal should be feeling quite confident, having not been beaten by Man United in their last five league matches.
The Gunners won four times and drew the other, and are tipped to pick up all three points.
The last time United bested Arsenal was in an FA Cup third-round match via penalties in January.
This match is expected to be an explosive occasion, with goals being a certainty when you consider the number of top goalscorers both sides are packing.
