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Strengths:
New signings. Man Utd lost, but manager Ruben Amorim can be pleased with his summer acquisitions. Matheus Cunha posed a threat to Arsenal's defense with his confident, fast, and skillful plays. Bryan Mbeumo also contributed positively with his dribbling and finishing on the right wing. Benjamin Sesko didn't make a huge impact in his 30 minutes on the pitch, but still performed better than Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres. With this promising start, these three newcomers are expected to contribute more as they integrate into the squad.
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Controlling the game. For years, Man Utd has often resorted to a defensive, counter-attacking style against strong opponents. However, against Arsenal on the evening of 17/8, things began to change. The Red Devils controlled 62% of possession, with 22 shots and 7 on target, while Arsenal managed only 9 shots with 3 on target. Had goalkeeper Altay Bayindir not made a mistake in the 13th minute, the outcome might have been different.
Title contenders like Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, and Arsenal are all developing possession-based game plans. If Man Utd continues in this direction, they could soon rejoin the top ranks.
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Weaknesses:
Goalkeeping. Neither of Man Utd’s top two goalkeepers currently inspires confidence. Andre Onana has been prone to errors, and Bayindir was at fault against Arsenal. To progress, Man Utd needs a top-class goalkeeper in the remaining two weeks of the transfer window. They could pursue Gianluigi Donnarumma, recently dropped from PSG's squad due to contract renewal issues, or even bring David De Gea back from Fiorentina.
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Lack of effective scoring options. Man Utd’s attack lacks variation, preventing them from capitalizing on their possession advantage. Most of their attacks are focused on the wings, with four players involved in their 3-4-3 formation. However, their overlapping runs, off-the-ball movement, and crosses lack precision, speed, and surprise. The team likely needs more time for players to develop chemistry and refine their attacking play.
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Midfield. Deploying Bruno Fernandes as a central midfielder rather than in his preferred attacking role is not ideal. The Portuguese star isn't a playmaker like PSG's Vitinha or Barca's Pedri, resulting in a somewhat subdued performance. Casemiro isn't a first-choice defensive midfielder either. Manager Amorim needs a younger, more dynamic player who excels at both defensive duties and box-to-box play. This is why he has requested the board to sign Carlos Baleba, currently valued at 150 million USD by Brighton.
Ngoc Tuan
Photo: Reuters, PA, AFP, AP.
