Arsenal open their Premier League campaign against Manchester United, so we connected with our friends at The Busby Babe to see how things were going at Old Trafford heading into the season. Colin Damms was kind enough to chat with us about United’s transfer business, what we can expect from the first full season of Rubin Amorim, and share his thoughts about what we might see in Sunday’s match.
TSF: How’re the vibes at Old Trafford heading into the season? Last year was tough (to put it mildly) but
also ended with a shot at silverware, how does that affect expectations for this year?
BB: The vibes are seemingly positive around the club. There has been great effort to back Amorim during media opportunities for players and info from the club. There is plenty of that for most teams in the preseason, but there was investment made and some good players in the squad still. They made a run to the final, but lost to a bad Tottenham team without threatening too much.
Personally, I’m still skeptical. Preseason results saw some nice goals as well as some familiar shortcomings in organization and chance creation. It’s a rough start to the year schedule-wise, and we’ll find out quickly how much players have adapted to Amorim’s system.
TSF: Is Ruben Amorim the right guy for the job? How will his dogmatic approach and specific style work with more of “his” players on the roster?
BB: It’s impossible to answer right now. I think he needs more of a chance to field his team, but it has been an alarming start.
His dogmatic approach will probably be popular with fans who think the players phone it in, but football is more complicated than that. These are professional players who don’t want to be in 15th place again. If they continue to fail, it won’t be simply a lack of effort.
I think the best managers recognize the strengths and weaknesses of their team and adapt accordingly to find the best way to compete and win. Amorim hasn’t done that yet outside of a (somewhat flukey) run to the Europa League Final, where again, we lost to TOTTENHAM.
TSF: Run through United’s notable summer business – key additions and departures. Any business left to do?
BB: Bryan Mbeumo arrives after a personal best year at Brentford. I like this one the best. Even if he isn’t continuing his goalscoring, he’s a good creative player who naturally fits on the right. We haven’t had that since Antonio Valencia.
Benjamin Sesko is a big, physical striker who is ok playing on the ball a bit deeper, which is good because we don’t create chances in the box very frequently. Hasn’t delivered eye-catching production yet, but will be a centerpiece either way.
Matheus Cunha, like Mbeumo, had a personal best season as a goal scorer, and did it on a bad Wolves team. Haven’t seen much from him in preseason and will need to adapt quickly to playing his way in this team, where we already have Bruno Fernandes playing tricky, high-risk passes.
Diego Leon is most likely a guy for the future, and competition for a wing-back role. Probably an early cup rounds player this year to see what he can do.
TSF: I like to ask everyone some variation of the next two questions in these things: who or what about Arsenal particularly worries you as a Manchester United writer – a particular matchup, a pattern of play, set pieces, etc.?
BB: One, Viktor Gyokeres worries me because him scoring would be the perfect storyline to clown on United for buying the wrong striker with his connection to Amorim. Even though he was never really an option for us.
I am always worried about Bukayo Saka. He is a special player, and with our left wing-back venturing forward often, there will likely be plenty of room to attack. A more defensive setup is possible for United on Sunday, which may negate that to some extent, but as we saw last season, there is still always space to attack even when we play five at the back.
TSF: For Manchester United to beat Arsenal, they have to [fill in the blank].
BB: Defend a tight line and strike quickly in behind.
Whether it’s a low-block or a mid-block, these attackers operate best when defenders are back-pedaling. I don’t think there’s anything anti-football about doing what you have to do to win, and I just don’t think United are talented enough in midfield to go toe-to-toe against superior numbers with their current pivot options.
TSF: How will Amorim deploy the troops on Sunday?
BB: His usual 3-4-3 is nailed on. I’ll say Yoro, Maguire, and Ayden Heaven at the back with Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu at wing-back. Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes midfield, and a front three of Mbeumo, Mason Mount, and Matheus Cunha. Sesko probably off the bench, but could very well be in line to start. Mount and Cunha have had a full preseason though.
TSF: And finally, what’s your prediction for the result?
BB: I think it’s a feisty draw, 1-1 or 2-2.
We’ve seen a bit of a return to the old school dislike (for lack of a better word) between the teams on the pitch the last couple of seasons. Probably due to United being scrappier and Arsenal adding some real physicality to their defense and midfield under Arteta.
I can’t really remember a game with flowing football and big attacking moves between these teams since the 2022 ten Hag win at Old Trafford. It’s mostly been us hunkering down and waiting for chances, and I expect that to continue given where the team is.
Thanks again to Colin!
