Man Utd suffers a disheartening home loss to Arsenal, which sets a disturbing record for Ruben Amorim in the Premier League
Manchester United Struggle in Premier League Opener
Manchester United kicked off their 2023-24 Premier League season with a disappointing 1-0 loss against Arsenal, marking the fastest a manager has reached 15 losses with a non-newly-promoted side since Paul Hart at Portsmouth in 2009.
Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese manager who took over from Erik ten Hag in November 2023, has had teething problems since his appointment. Amorim's record with Manchester United so far includes 7 wins, 7 draws, and 15 losses in 29 games played.
The Red Devils have invested heavily in their forward line this summer, spending £200million on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, and Benjamin Sesko. However, on this occasion, Mbeumo and Cunha were lively but squandered some dangerous chances, while Sesko remained on the bench until the 65th minute.
The game started with a blank for United, who mustered only 44 goals in the Prem last season and continued the trend in the opening match. The decisive moment came when a corner delivery by Arsenal was met with a mistake from Altay Bayindir, resulting in an own goal for Manchester United.
The absence of a midfield reinforcement is causing concern among fans, as United have abandoned their bid to land Carlos Baleba at least until next summer due to Brighton's asking price. However, there is an interest in Morten Hjulmand from United, while they are one of several clubs who admire Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace.
Amorim has been linked with potential signings for the goalkeeper position, including Gianluigi Donnarumma and David de Gea. The search for a solution before the end of the transfer window is urgent, as United have released Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen, with no money spent on outgoing transfers.
Marcus Rashford, who has been frozen out of the team following a feud with Amorim, has been sent on two loans to Aston Villa and Barcelona. Alejandro Garnacho is still pushing for a move away from the club, with Chelsea at the top of his transfer wishlist.
As United look to bounce back from this disappointing start, Amorim and sporting director Jason Wilcox have two weeks to find a solution that will appease the fans and improve the team's performance on the pitch.
Despite the heavy investments in their forward line, Manchester United's attackers squandered opportunities in the Premier League opener against Arsenal, raising questions about the team's performance in European leagues this season.
The European-leagues campaign for Manchester United might be challenging if they continue to struggle in their own domestic league, particularly with the absence of a midfield reinforcement and the uncertain goalkeeping situation.
