True to the nature of a friendly match, the two teams entered the game with a relaxed mentality and created an extremely open game.
During the first 30 minutes of the game, there were many attractive tit-for-tat situations in a row. However, MU is the team that takes advantage of the better opportunity to get a goal.
30 minutes, Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock with a shot from outside the penalty area. Continuing the excitement, MU had a goal to raise the score to 2-0 in the 37th minute. This time, Sancho punished the Arsenal defender’s mistake with a quick and decisive finish.
Entering the second half, with a series of adjustments by both Arsenal and MU, the game slowed down.
Despite some obvious chances created, no further goals were scored.
In the end, MU won against Arsenal with a score of 2-0. Thereby extending the winning streak in the summer of 2023 friendlies to 3. Erik ten Hag was pleased with Manchester United’s performance in and out of possession as they kicked off their pre-season tour of the US with a win over fellow title hopefuls Arsenal.
After bҽating Leeds in Oslo and Lyon in Edinburgh, the Reds began the main preparatory phase for the 2023-2024 season at the sold-out MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday.
Newly appointed captain Bruno Fernandes bҽat Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with ease before Jadon Sancho scored after a Gabriel foul in the 2-0 win at half-time.
“I think that’s very good,” said United boss Ten Hag. “The way we played, I was really pleased, the way we actively controlled the ball and controlled the ball. “That’s the way we want to play and it’s the only time of year you can really practice and move it into games without any consequences.
“However, we still wantҽd to win, and I think the players showed we played a good game.”
“Of course, they are all great games,” he continued. We have to go and that helps us to improve and especially those opponents, they are very good.
“Arsenal is a really good opponent. They played incredibly well last season in the Premier League, so it’s great to play against them, then you’ll get better.”
The main nҽgative was a second-half iпjury for Amad Diallo, who left MetLife Stadium on crutches with his left foot bound. Ten Hag will be hoping the youngster avoids any serious injuries on a night where 18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo put in a promising performance.
“It was amazing,” the Dutchman told MUTV. “Manchester United has a reputation for always bringing in young players and it can be done. But we have to see.
“We have confidence, he is playing with confidence and I really enjoyed his performance. But this year, he showed it in the spring, then he got injured. We are really happy.
“There are many younger players with us and they are all doing very well. But I don’t want to raise my expectations too high.
“We have to see. The Premier League is tough but you can certainly see we have some really good young players who can play an important role in the team. But the bar is high. United continued on to San Diego, where their reserves met Wrexham before the first team faced Real Madrid in Houston and Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas.
Arsenal bҽat the MLS All-Stars 5-0 in Washington DC on Wednesday night and headed to Los Angeles to face Barcelona looking to bounce back from the defeat to United.
Barca had to cancel a friendly against Juventus on Saturday because “a significant portion of the Blaugrana team suffered from viral gastroenteritis”.
A spokesman for Arsenal said they were in close contact with the La Liga champions and were fully confident their match against them would go ahead as planned on July 26.
Mikel Arteta is hoping his side will respond, having said after the loss to United: “Yes (this is a good lesson for us).
“You asked me yesterday about my thoughts on how difficult or easy the season is going to be.
“It will be more challenging, more difficult, the level and preparation of the whole team is excellent and we know today they played two games before this game and we know the test will be really tough, like it will be on Wednesday against one of the best teams in the world.
“I don’t like to lose and I don’t like the feeling I have right now.
“So the boys have to train now, in that space, thinking about how we’re going to get better to win the next game.”