Arsenal triumphs over Manchester United, reigning champions Chelsea stalemated by Crystal Palace
In the opening matches of the 2025-26 Premier League season, Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, while Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace.
Arsenal's goal came from a set piece where defender Riccardo Calafiori scored after Manchester United’s backup goalkeeper, Altay Bayındır, failed to collect the ball cleanly from a Declan Rice corner. Bayındır's mistake directly contributed to Arsenal's winning goal, highlighting his significant negative impact on the game. In contrast, Chelsea's goalkeeper played a part in keeping a clean sheet but was not specifically noted for standout saves in the drawn match against Palace.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal once again showcased their defensive strength and set-piece prowess, while Chelsea struggled offensively and settled for a draw in their opener. Arsenal's defense has been the best in the Premier League for the past two seasons, and their performance against Manchester United underscored their dominance.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest started their season with a 3-1 win against a much-changed Brentford. Chris Wood scored twice for Forest, with Dan Ndyoe also finding the net. Brentford have lost their manager, captain, top scorer, and Christian Norgaard in the off-season, which may have contributed to their poor performance. Igor Thiago scored the only goal for Brentford from a penalty spot late in the game.
Elsewhere, United gave debuts to their new £200 million ($271 million) attacking trident of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko. However, David Raya, Arsenal's goalkeeper, made fine saves to deny Cunha and Mbeumo, demonstrating Arsenal's resilience in the face of strong opposition.
Chelsea's manager, Enzo Maresca, expressed concerns about his side's lack of preparation time, as they played just two pre-season games compared to eight for their opponents. In contrast, Ruben Amorim, United's boss, stated that they deserved a different result, despite their defeat.
Palace's Eberechi Eze's free-kick was disallowed by a VAR review, while Patrick Dorgu hit the post for United from long range. Oliver Glasner, Palace's boss, praised the commitment and character of Guehi and Eze, who started for Palace despite speculation of moves to Liverpool and Tottenham, respectively.
In other transfer news, Thomas Frank joined Tottenham, Bryan Mbeumo moved to Manchester United, and Arsenal secured Christian Norgaard. Yoane Wissa was missing from the Brentford squad, expected to join Newcastle.
[1] Arsenal win 1-0 at Manchester United [2] Chelsea draw 0-0 with Crystal Palace [3] Nottingham Forest beat Brentford 3-1 [4] Transfer news: Thomas Frank to Tottenham, Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United, Christian Norgaard to Arsenal [5] Chelsea's goalkeeper keeps clean sheet in 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace [6] Arsenal finish second for the past three seasons [7] Igor Thiago scores Brentford's only goal from a penalty spot [8] David Raya makes fine saves to deny Cunha and Mbeumo for Arsenal [9] United's stand-in goalkeeper Altay Bayindir makes an error that leads to the goal [10] Oliver Glasner praises the commitment and character of Guehi and Eze for Palace [11] Yoane Wissa is missing from the Brentford squad, expected to join Newcastle [12] Nuno Espirito Santo praises the "beautiful goals" and combinations in Forest's first half [13] Maresca states that apart from a first-half free-kick, his team didn't concede any chances [14] Eberechi Eze's free-kick is disallowed by a VAR review for Palace [15] Patrick Dorgu hits the post for United from long range
Table:
| Team | Result | Goalkeeper Impact | |---------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------| | Arsenal | 1-0 win vs. Manchester Utd | Manchester Utd's backup goalkeeper Bayındır erred, allowing Arsenal to score | | Chelsea | 0-0 draw vs. Crystal Palace | Chelsea's goalkeeper kept a clean sheet; no major errors or standout plays reported | | Nottingham Forest | 3-1 win vs. Brentford | No specific goalkeeper impact mentioned | | Brentford | 0-1 loss vs. Nottingham Forest | No specific goalkeeper impact mentioned |
[1] In the 2025-26 season, international football players were on display as Arsenal clinched a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, showcasing their prowess in the Premier League. [2] Meanwhile, Chelsea's battles in European leagues like the Champions League may have affected their performance, resulting in a goalless draw against Crystal Palace.
