And so another Premier League chapter in the illustrious history of Manchester United begins at Old Trafford, with Arsenal presenting a familiar challenge on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim is tasked with raising his side from the perils of a disastrous 15th-place finish, while restoring a sense of pride and perennial competitiveness in the North West.
In response to that horrific ordeal, an Ineos-led backroom team has revolutionised his attacking options with several marquee names. At the same time, Bruno Fernandes disregarded the allure of Monopoly money to lead the way as captain.
Mikel Arteta has built an impressive team in North London, with Viktor Gyokeres recruited as the missing jigsaw piece. That said, trophies have been elusive, and pressure is mounting after considerable financial backing.
Although neither side has yet kicked a ball in competitive action, the result of this season’s opener can act as a catalyst for a successful campaign.
Given the magnitude of expectation on both, Amorim and Arteta will leave no stone unturned ahead of this mouthwatering showpiece.
Manchester United Team News
Amorim has enjoyed a promising pre-season without tasting defeat. Although there have been some worrying moments, promising passages of attacking fluidity outweighed potential concerns.
New arrivals Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo gained vital minutes in America and are both in line to occupy the attacking 10 roles ahead of a deeper-lying Fernandes.
Although Benjamin Sesko arrived later in the window, he has impressed early and is eager to lead the line following his move from RB Leipzig.
“He is ready, first of all – physically he is ready, that is a big component in our league, then he is really smart, every detail he asks, he is always thinking, he spends all afternoon working on his fitness,” Amorim stated during his pre-match press conference.
“He is ready to play. We will see if he starts. He does the same as the other players. He is one guy who stays here, has lunch, and goes to the medical department; he is always thinking about football. Every game is do or die; you don’t have to think about that aspect with one guy.
“I don’t need to tell Ben, with that guy, I don’t have that concern, I have the opposite, enjoy a bit.”
Andre Onana and Joshua Zirkzee have recovered from separate setbacks that kept them out of pre-season action and are in line for selection.
Thankfully, following meticulous planning and enhanced medical supervision, Amorim will enjoy close to a full bill of health in his squad, with Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui the only absentees.
Gabriel Jesus is unavailable for Arteta, but Gyokeres, who played under Ruben at Sporting, is set to make his Premier League debut.
Arsenal have also recruited strongly across other positions, bringing in Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Cristhian Mosquera.
Despite the contrasting fortunes of both sides in recent seasons, United hold a strong record against their London rivals at M16, losing only twice in the previous 18 meetings.
Interestingly, this fixture will be the second time that Old Trafford will play host to Arsenal for a season opener, with the Reds romping to a 4-1 victory in 1989.
Should United gain three points on Sunday, it will be the 100th time they have beaten Arsenal in all competitions (W99, L89, D55). They have only achieved more against Aston Villa (107).
You can listen to our in-depth analysis of the fixture and information regarding Carlos Baleba on the latest episode of the Theatre of Red podcast.
Predicted Manchester United starting XI: (3-4-2-1): Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Bruno, Casemiro, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Sesko.
How are you feeling ahead of Sunday’s 16:30 BST kickoff? Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
Photo by operations@newsimages.co.uk via depositphotos.com
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