Calafiori header helps Arsenal edge past improved Man Utd

0:05Thanks for joining us on the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. We were at Old Trafford for the first Super Sunday of the new Premier League season to see Manchester United play Arsenal. Here's how we saw things when the final whistle blew.

0:25Arsenal launch with a win. A win on the ground where for them wins have always meant plenty. They had to dig for it. Boy, they had to dig. Riccardo Calafiore was the improbable scorer of their only goal from right on the line from a mischievous Declan Rice corner, discomforting one goalkeeper on a day when the other David Raya excelled with certainly one maybe two really outstanding saves. United had plenty going for them positively, Cunha was good and Bermot was good, Szczesko got the last 25 minutes or so and might be a weapon in weeks to come but Gary ultimately Arsenal came for their win here and it is another Arsenal 1-0 win yeah they really dug in as you say Peter a lot of resilience we know how good they are defensively the goalkeeper made a couple of great saves the back four got better as the game went on they were never at the best Arsenal but to come here to Manchester whether it's been to Old Trafford or to Old Trafford or Manchester City's ground it's always tough and to get three points is a big one for Mikel Arteta there's a lot of United players there looking dejected and they're all on the floor but I actually think if they keep up this level of performance which is the big question they'll actually win a lot of points this season because I think there were quite a few decent things out there but Arsenal just very strong and that set piece in the first half was the big difference in the game but there were points of difference to appreciate around Manchester United Brian and Bermot certainly one of those all of which eclipsed by a moment when Riccardo Calafiore who started at left back for Arsenal got up and in front of goal made good and so Arsenal at Old Trafford have indeed made good, they love to win here and again by a single goal that is, Dave, just what they have done in the sunshine at Old Trafford it's Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1

2:34Daniel Sturridge:Away victory for Mikel Arteta on this first weekend of the season what was it that got them over the line, Micah? I think it was just them being resilient i don't think they're not the best at all throughout the game i think big characters big performances from center half goalkeeper was very good as well um i think lucky long term we're talking about the first game of the season but arsenal looked a little bit leggy didn't look sharp um so there's positive measures to take but all in all i called it one no before the game i I think they'll be at the actual best today. But to get a win in the first game away from home...

3:13Daniel Sturridge:Great. Is that one of those days, Daniel, if it's not working for you as an attacking outlet, that you just have to make sure you keep a clean sheet? And yes, you rely on your goalkeeper at times. Yeah, they were working their socks off there, banging out of the knocking on the door, and the goalkeeper was answering. But when you look at the defensive framework of Arsenal, they were a little bit more open today than I've seen them. To be fair, I didn't feel like they were at their best at all. This isn't the Arsenal last season and the season before that. Of course, we're a lot better defensively, but we are early in the season.

3:49Daniel Sturridge:It's the first game, so I won't take much from that. I imagine they'll improve as the season goes on. We can hear now from a couple of members of that Arsenal defensive unit. They're speaking live with Patrick Davison. Well, David, to fight for a title, to win a title, as you hope to do. You have to show lots of different faces, I guess, through a season. Was today a day where you showed fight, resilience, character to get the three points? I think so. I think when the quality wasn't there, we went in our best day with the ball. Defensively, we went in our best, so that was our fight. We got our goal in the first half with a corner, and from there we just fought until the end.

4:30And credit to the boys that in the end we kept a clean sheet. We know we could have lost the game but football is like this and days like these days that's when the three points count. Let's bring in the goalscorer, Riccardo we know that you brilliant team at set pieces and it looked like a new routine so a lot of hard work in pre-season working on your corners. Yeah, like always we're working a lot on set pieces and I think we showed it today. Every season I think we have to improve if possible and yeah we have to keep going like that. How pleased were you even to get the start today? Because you had great moments last season, but it was a bit stop start.

5:08And an example of the depth you've got in this Arsenal squad is those full-back positions where you've got such strong competition. Yeah, I mean, if we want to compete at a higher level, we have to be good in every position. Of course, my teammates are ready to play. So it's not easy to play every game. But, of course, this concurrence that we have inside is going to help us and it's going to bring up the level. So we just have to keep going. And hopefully I'm going to play a lot. But if not, there is another teammate who's going to play with me and it's going to be even better. David, I feel like you always play well here.

5:42You certainly did last season. Pick of the saves today, maybe that one from Cunha first half. That one from Cunha, I think. It was a tough one. I don't know how I saved it, to be honest. It was very, very close to my feet. But no, delighted to have the team to get the three points. And that's the main thing. OK, well, well done. You're the player of the match. Thank you. Ricardo, do the honours for us.

6:06Daniel Sturridge:1-0 to the Arsenal. How often we have heard that in recent seasons under Mikel Arteta. They got the job done enough, that early goal here at Old Trafford. Roy Keane, how significant do you think that victory is? It's an important start for them. With the other teams doing so well over the weekend, wasn't great the second half. I thought you lacked quality, particularly from Arsenal's point of view. but you take a win on the first day of the season and you move on obviously a home game next week to Leeds they'll fancy themselves in that match but overall I think the game was poor second half the expectations that you neither know is so low that even when Gary was talking to commentary everyone's even comfortable with 1-0 defeat you know you've got to do better again does that trouble you?

6:47it does worry me yeah even there was obviously the couple of the new signings a lot of encouragement with that they're getting you up to pitch and there's a bit more power you think obviously results will improve it's always tough against Arsenal but again no goal and not a defeat first day of the season so yeah still problems over the United and then we see it obviously with the goal terms of set piece physicality determination to get a result your goalkeeper really not doing well enough not being strong enough so yeah there's still there's still that worry I had it before the match encouragement from somebody attacking players but what was your main worry before the game I suppose what we saw again not for all the bit of encouragement hitting the posts and keep them making saves not you never felt United two or three goals in them and even ask to get into one goal obviously have asked and I think that that's a worry when I see what ask we're doing you wonder why I asked another just coming up short because they're still happy enough to kind of sit in at 1-0 and then you go is that the reason you drew so many games last year you know for comparing them to a Man City or a Liverpool they're always thinking let's go and get the second goal that's even on a bad day with Liverpool you think that's what two or three goals so that's the challenge for Arsenal but for The first day of the season, obviously their sharpness will improve.

7:58Saka, Odegaard, Rice, I think there's a lot more to come from them. But of course you take a win on the first day of the season and a clean sheet. United had their moments, didn't they?

8:05Daniel Sturridge:But did you ever feel that Arsenal were vulnerable or they were going to concede? Yeah, I did. And Bermuda was in some great positions. And, you know, if you're thinking he makes the perfect connection on the ball, it's a goal. You know, the keeper made some good saves. they showed a different side to Arsenal that we haven't seen which is that they were a lot more open in those central areas they found a lot of joy down the right-hand side with Mbamo especially in the first half and I think all in all Man United's attack will go away thinking to themselves on another day I could have left scoring one or two today that's how I would have felt certainly if I was in Mbamo I'd be going to bed thinking wow I should have left with one today So I think they're going to take confidence from their performance, Man United.

8:51Daniel Sturridge:But in the end, the result's all that matters. And Arsenal will leave going to London, buzzing with themselves, saying, look, we didn't perform to our best today, but we're going on with the three points. As you said, Mikey, before the game, if your ultimate goal is to win the title, you have to win here. Yeah, and they won it. And it wasn't pretty at times, as the guys have said. But it's how much you can dig deep. And I think with Arsenal, what's helped them? sort of staying the fight for the title of the previous seasons. When they get into that low block, they're very difficult to break down.

9:23Adding the set pieces and they're a good side, I would just like to see them be a little bit more brave. And I'm not just talking about today, I'm talking about previous games as well. But how to start a season, to come to Old Trafford and get the three points, you can't ask for much more than that, especially when your players are not fit at this moment in time.

9:43Daniel Sturridge:And probably predictable, the source of the goal, because we know Arsenal are so good from set pieces, and here they were, their first corner of this new season, and you saw Manchester United in disarray trying to deal with it. Yeah, again, good delivery. We know Arsenal are big and strong, and they vary it. If you stop it where it goes, where the ball ends up, the goalkeeper, that's your keeper's job. So for all the blocking and the advantage, the goalkeeper, that's his area. he has to be he has to come with violence he's got to be aggressive he's got to be almost saying to players yeah come in here come here I'm happy to deal with it you've got to be aggressive but look he's just he's not he's not strong enough you agree Daniel he can do more there look he's appealing to the referee don't be appealing to the referee so Fleds look he's on his heels if a player comes into your area you go yeah you come in you invite him because I'm going to I'm going to hopefully punch the ball and I'll take you with it far too easy it's like you wouldn't see a kind of it's like schoolboy stuff we've seen it before from Hampton last season against Spurs in the Carabao Cup so the warning was there that's part of the goalkeeper's job we talk about shot stopping but that's about taking command of your area and also letting your own defenders know lads if it does come into this area where it came into first of all I've got it I've got it listen if something else happens to that we react to it but if that comes into me I am favour for it I am going to be favour he's what 6 '2 6 '3 and he ends up on his heels and he's getting bullied why don't you bully the other lads Why don't you come and punch it and go, if you come near me, listen, I'll take your head off as well, there's no problem.

11:16But they're all a bit, referee, don't look at the referee, take control of it. It's like a weakness to it, physically and mentally. And especially on an inswinger, you must know that when it's an inswinger, it'll always be coming towards me. Outswing is slightly different, you think, well, I want to be careful, I don't want to be drawn out to it and getting dragged into bodies. But when it's coming in on top of you, people go, hey, happy days.

11:38Daniel Sturridge:By contrast, did we see, through David Raya, the example of that positive goalkeeper who's going to make sure it doesn't cause him problems because he's going to deal with it. Yeah, I mean, the conviction in it is there, his experience and confidence. Similar situation, isn't it, really? But if you look on there, who's he got defending a little bit more? He's got Gabriel, where on the other side, it was Mount. So if you look at the balance between Saliba and Mount at the time, he's getting ragdolled everywhere. I just thought Dalit could have come inside and Mount could have gone outside. But in terms of the goalkeeper making that decisive decision, it was a really good punch.

12:14But if we just look here... Mount and Saliba, it's difficult. I agree with Roy, Bender should have done a lot better. Saliba doesn't do much more. Saliba's not even... Look at the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper's not even aware of him. The goalkeeper's on his heels and now he starts moving. and he should be on his toes bouncing going, I know you're going to come in here and be a nuisance. So he was doing very little to him. Do you know what he's doing? No, but he's leaning. He's actually, he's only leaning into him. The job of that player in that role there is to protect the goalkeeper so he can come and punch it.

12:50There's a lot of chaos going on within that. This is big. This is big, boys. But you've got to delay. There's going to be a mismatch. If your team, if they've got players, There's a lot more players bigger than your, Latch. You're going to be outmatched somewhere. But not in the centre of the goal. But if it comes there... It's come to the centre... But he's only leaning to... But that's the goalkeeper. You can't babysit a goalkeeper. I agree with you that the goalkeeper should definitely do better. But I also believe... The last player you want in there is a lot more.

13:18Daniel Sturridge:Is that, my character, a little bit to do with the smartness of Arsenal's routine that they sort of eliminate Manchester United's best aerial defenders in that situation? Why I believe De Ligt was at the far point, Palace, because Arsenal sometimes have all the players start at the front and then go to the back, show they must have thought the ball was going to the back post. That was the reason I believe De Ligt was there. But unfortunately, Rice, we've not talked about Rice's delivery. It's on a sixpence. Absolutely brilliant where it's in the centre of the goal and that's where you want your strong centre-half to be to help out the goalkeeper.

13:54Daniel Sturridge:You say that, right? But they've got Casemiro, the big defensive midfielder, and Jorowell lose another centre-half. I totally agree with De Ligt being at the back post. Are there best markers on people? Only the manager knows that. What I will say is I've done the role of Saliba in this situation and it does seem as if he is getting the better of Mount, but I'm not going to say it's Mount's fault because in the end, when you're on the football pitch, right, what do you want? You want one thing, it's your goalkeeper to come and clear everybody out. Any question that he's fouled there? No. I wouldn't say so.

14:33I don't know, he should go and play chess then, shouldn't he? Come on. The players you want to impress the most when you're a footballer, you're not about supporters or the... There's your teammates. Your teammates want to be able to look at your goalkeeper going, if it does come into this neck of the woods, what would it be a Schmeichel or all the top goalkeepers going, he's fine, I think he'd be OK. But instead of us going, I'll block him, I'll block... He's only leaning into him. they must do obviously they go through their own set pieces we saw before the game and if a goalkeeper can't deal with that part of the game well you are in trouble because we know the importance of set pieces we saw first in their first goal today set pieces are deciding huge games we saw the stats from Arsenal that's one of the reasons they're competing so well at the top of the table just alone from their set pieces so if you're a goalkeeper before the game if they're doing their chats this morning the last few days and you're going through what you have to sort out and you said to your goalkeeper if that comes in here your goalkeeper coach would be saying to you, that's on you.

15:28And he's not dealing with it. So it's on him.

15:31Daniel Sturridge:Let's bring in more reaction. Bruno Fernandes is with Patrick Davison. Well, Bruno, of course, the result isn't what you wanted, but in terms of the performance, was that a step forward? No, it's the first game of the season, so we can't speak about step forwards. He's the first one. So I think we made what was was asked during the season. We did a lot of good things, but obviously it wasn't enough. We conceded a goal from a set pieces in the first half, and I think from there on Arsenal didn't have any good chances. They didn't create any good chances. We were defending very well. I think, again, we created too many chances without scoring, so that's a point we have to look at and make it better next time.

16:23Is that a real positive though, the way you were able to limit them and control large portions of the match? No, obviously. I think in the first half, the game was very divided. Obviously, in the second half, Arsenal was defending the result, so it's normal for the teams to drop a little bit more, but I think we controlled well the game. We were very good on the ball and, as I said, we created some chances, but we didn't score. I think that's the main negative of the game for us today. Is the goal you've conceded a really disappointing one? The way you've given the corner away and then conceding from it when you know their strength in that area?

17:03No, it's part of the game. Corners, obviously, we know that they're very good in set pieces. Obviously, I haven't seen the goal again, but obviously, you know when you touch the goalkeeper, when he wants to jump and go for the ball, is very difficult, it makes it very difficult for him and unfortunately Altair couldn't get the ball out of the goal. Did you get a view on that? Any sense from you that it was a foul? No, no, no, as I said I haven't seen the replay and I was in the first ball so I can't talk about it but Altair was saying that in the moment he goes to push the ball, he gets a touch but obviously we know in the Premier League they don't give much in this type of situations even if they had a meeting with us saying that if the players are blocking and not looking at the ball, they will whistle more.

17:48But we know that's just kind of a saying, but not really going to the game. Did you feel like the new boys started the game, so Mbamo and Cunha, added quite a lot of threat to the team, even though obviously no goal to show for it? Yeah, but they create a lot. They were in the right positions. I think obviously Matheus, when he came as a 10, he was much more dangerous. But even as a striker, he creates some chances. We know they're dangerous. We know they're a threat and they can help us a lot in that position, on the counters, coming inside with the ball and get them shots. So we're very aware of what they can give to the team.

18:27It was a good first impression for them, but I'm pretty sure they will do much better. Do you have the sense, despite this defeat, similar to the first question, that this isn't just a repeat of last season? There is some hope that comes out of what you've done in pre-season and what you've done today. No, obviously we have a big hope for this season, for what we want to achieve, for what we want to do this season. So I think, as I said, obviously losing the game is difficult to look at some positive things. But is there positive things to look about? Defending better on the set pieces is something that we need to look about also.

19:05Scoring goals is something that we need to look at. But as I said, I really like the reaction of the fans at the end. them. I really appreciate what they did. The sign of hope that you talk, for me, there was more the sign of hope than what we did on the game. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thanks Bruno.

19:27Daniel Sturridge:What hope did you see? What fresh hope did you see for Manchester United? Come on, Roy, it's the first game. Roy almost fell off the sofa. It's the first game. Give them a little bit of leeway. It's still getting up to speed. There was definitely positives in Man United's play today. OK, they didn't get the result that they wanted. I thought Dogu and Dalot in the first half were outstanding. I thought they took more wrist. Normally, Man United played more a low block. I thought it was more in the mid block. They took chances when Dogu got his chance. Then they bring on Dalot in the second half.

20:03He couldn't create as much as he wanted to. And Mbremel was really good in running in that right-hand channel. I thought there was positives for Man United today. Daniel, would you add to that? I think Kunia today lit the place up.

20:17Daniel Sturridge:I thought he was the best player for Man United for me. Maybe on the pitch. I think what he was doing is going to bring something different to what Man United... They haven't had something like that where it can get you on the edge of your seat. And I think for me, as he continues to go, he's going to be a special player for the team. I think in attack they looked really good. They were knocking on the door, like I said before, Raya was answering. It's football. Sometimes you give your best going forward and it's not good enough. I think defensively they looked better. They were positive in their defensive action centrally.

20:54Daniel Sturridge:You know, you saw the doggy chants in the first half where they swarmed in the middle of the park and off they went. And then he was positive going forward and taking a shot. And I think all in all, of course the result's all that matters. It's football. That's what it's all about, right? You want the three points, but if I'm going into that dressing room off the back of last season's performances, I'm thinking to myself, you know what, man? Yeah, we've lost today, but we've played Arsenal for one. We've given our best. Of course, we should... They drew home with Arsenal last season. What I'm saying is...

21:26Man United should be capable.

21:27Daniel Sturridge:No, they should be capable, but they've also finished. Where in the league? What was it? So, we're talking about... We're not talking about head-to-head. It's a new season, right? if I'm a Manchester United player I'm going in there thinking we've lost today I'm absolutely devastated but in comparison to where we were there's loads of positives to take away and the new players don't have that mindset they're coming in with a fresh mindset thinking I'm coming to Man United I'm coming to rip it up I want to tear this place down I want to show everybody what I'm all about and I want to change this club and bring them back to where they were that's what the new players might say We will give you a chance to respond to this, Roy Yeah, but I just think talking about the new signs they did look like Man United players I give them that they looked like they enjoyed it and they embraced the pressure There are positives Yeah Good We will give Roy a chance to respond to everything else Manchester United in a few minutes' time.

22:14Daniel Sturridge:But when we come back, we're going to get the reaction of the Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, to this opening weekend win.

22:37Daniel Sturridge:I'll be joined as ever by my good friend Dahmer Sheff and a host of top journalists to dissect all the latest transfer business in the Premier League. So if you don't already, give Transfer Talk a follow wherever you get your podcasts from.

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23:53For now, though, let's get back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast.

24:01Daniel Sturridge:The runners up for three successive seasons. Arsenal fans are asking, could this be their year? Well, they're off to a winning start here, away to Manchester United. Let's hear from the boss, Mikel Arteta, with Patrick Davison. Well, Mikel, we can come to how you did it shortly. But firstly, what did you think about the character your team showed? How important was it that you got the result today? Well, massive. To come in the first picture to Old Trafford with that atmosphere, the way they are building momentum with the new signings and the excitement around it is top. I mean, it's a great feeling.