Cabin BLV: MU defeated, but reasons for optimism remain

Although MU’s narrow defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League opener wasn’t the start they wanted, Ruben Amorim and his players still have grounds for optimism based on their display.

1. Last season, MU failed to win either of their two matches against Arsenal, losing 0-2 away and drawing 1-1 at Old Trafford. In those fixtures, Amorim’s team played in a way that left supporters startled and frustrated, as any potential victory would have relied on luck or flashes of individual brilliance.

But what about the recent match against Arsenal on Sunday? It’s clear that MU’s attacking play was more coherent, especially in moving the ball smoothly into the opponent’s half. The presence of new signings like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha up front has added freshness to Amorim’s attacking approach, a notable change from last season’s setup. However, MU’s finishing certainly needs improvement: 22 shots, 7 on target, but none converted into goals is a worrying statistic. The expectation is that as newcomer Benjamin Sesko gets more game time and adapts to MU’s style, their ability to turn chances into goals will improve.

Of course, there are still several issues for MU to resolve after the Arsenal loss. The goalkeeper position is an area that Amorim must pay attention to, as Altay Bayindir clearly made an error leading to the goal, even though there’s still debate about whether the Turkish keeper was fouled. More importantly, despite their shortcomings, Amorim’s MU have brought excitement to the fans with a style of football that shows potential for improvement with each game, rather than being a team that relies solely on individual brilliance as they did last season.

2. So what is MU’s most pressing issue based on the recent Arsenal match? Amorim’s midfield arrangement still doesn’t provide complete assurance. Against Mikel Arteta’s team, MU’s central midfield pair was Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, the most experienced players in that area. The problem is that both are over 30, and this setup isn’t the most effective solution. Personally, I believe Casemiro usually only plays well for one half and struggles with sustained play. The difficulty is that alternatives like Manuel Ugarte haven’t lived up to expectations, while pairing Kobbie Mainoo with Fernandes also isn’t ideal.

This explains why MU’s priority for the remainder of the summer transfer window is to find a quality midfielder to support captain Fernandes and ease the burden on the Portuguese international. Amorim’s team previously showed interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, but the £100 million-plus fee demanded by Brighton is a major obstacle since MU can only spend freely after offloading surplus players. Some reports indicate that Amorim’s side are now considering Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton as a backup option if the Baleba deal falls through. Wharton is still young but has already proven himself at Selhurst Park and would be a suitable addition to MU’s midfield.

In conclusion, while MU’s attack mainly needs time to gel and create a difference from last season, the midfield is where Amorim must make the most calculations. Without a high-quality midfield, it will be difficult for his MU to make a transformation and return to elite status. MU fans are justified in being optimistic that the defeat to Arsenal is a sign that Amorim’s side are changing for the better.

BLV Quang Huy