Man Utd clashed Arsenal in the opening round of the Premier League 2025/26. A season that both set goals and after 90 minutes at Old Trafford, we have more or less seen that. Through the data provided by Uniscore, look deeper to imagine the panoramic picture of the two of the biggest teams in England.
Control the ball and the pace of the match
First, Ruben Amorim's team has improved significantly in the field of pressing, holding the ball and passing the ball. Through data from UniscoreMU prevails clearly in controlling the ball with 61% of the time, compared to 39% of Arsenal. This is the figure that reflects the active play that the Portuguese coach wants to impose at home. The Red Devils not only hold many balls but also distribute the pace of the match through 475 passes, of which 393 passes accurately (83% of the correct pass rate).
In contrast, Arsenal proactively yielded the game, only 294 passes (219 accurate, reaching 75%). However, playing deep back and waiting for the opportunity from a fixed situation has helped them optimize the defensive power and avoid falling into a unfavorable ball control race.
The attack posture: MU's outstanding statistics
Looking at the number of finishes, it is easy to see that MU is a more overwhelming team: 22 shots compared to just 9 Arsenal shots. In particular, MU has 7 shots on the target, and Arsenal has only 3. The superiority is also shown in the number of touches in the penalty area: MU 36 times, Arsenal only 19 times. Even the expected goal (XG) is in favor of the home team (1.59 compared to 1.05).
However, all these efforts were blocked by the excellence of goalkeeper David Raya, who had 7 saves, 1 ball punch and once broke the ball. This is the biggest difference when MU cannot take advantage of the opportunity, and Arsenal only needs a moment to decide the situation.
Arsenal wall: Defense resilient
Arsenal committed 19 errors – nearly double the 10 of MU – and had to receive 4 yellow cards. This is a result of fierce defense and does not hesitate to make a tactical mistake to prevent continuous brakes from the host. The brightest point in the Arsenal defense is Gabriel Magala and William Saliba. The duo has resolved many ball situations, with Gabriel alone with 7 balls. As MU increased pressure in the second half, the two Gunners center -backs still retain the concentration, combined with Raya to maintain the goal.
The appearance of Calafiori not only brought the only goal but also added the defensive depth. Despite receiving a yellow card in the 42nd minute, the Italian defender still played discipline until he left the field in the 71st minute. It can be said that Arsenal won with the defensive bravery and the ability to take advantage of opportunities, exactly a seasoned team.
Physical and pressing
A noteworthy point is that the total travel distance: Arsenal surpassed with 114.6 km, while MU only reached 108.6 km. Arsenal's speed is also more (134 compared to 126). This reflects how Arsenal actively pressing in key areas, especially when MU deploys the ball near the penalty area. It is the endurance in the movement that helped Arsenal compensate for the ball control distance and created weight in collective defense.
Outstanding individuals
On MU, Bruno Fernandes continues to be an innovative center with 5 passes that opened up opportunities, but lacks the goodness with the rookies in the attack. Bryan Mbeumo played energetic, 5 finishes and 1 successful ball, most notably the header was blocked by Raya in the 73rd minute. Starting as a striker, deep back and support for pulling the ball and using personal techniques to create clear opportunities for themselves in the context of the unpaid team attack.
On the Arsenal side, Riccardo Calafiori marked with a single goal, from the assist of Declan Rice. The British midfielder is both construction and good at interception. However, the brightest star is David Raya with 7 spectacular saves, helping Arsenal stand up to MU's overwhelming pressure and deserve to be voted as the best player in the match with 8.2 points.
Conclusion: A lesson for MU, the affirmation of Arsenal
If just looking at statistics provided from Uniscore online score pagemany people will think MU deserves to win at least 1 point. But football is not a competition who shot more, but the sport of effectiveness. Arsenal has proven maturity to know how to survive in a difficult game and make the most of the rare opportunity.
On the MU side, this failure set a big question for the attack. Whether their stars have done their personal wells, Fernandes, Mount, Mbeumo or Cunha have not really connected. In addition, the mistake of the goalkeeper Bayır highlights the gap between the game and the result.
The match ended with Score 0-1but the following numbers have told a longer story: the difference between outstanding statistics and the ability to take advantage of real opportunities. MU can raise her head high because of the overwhelming performance, but Arsenal is the team leaving with a smile and 3 valuable points.
