Riccardo Calafiori scored the only goal of the game with a deft header from under the crossbar, after Red Devils goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to deal with an inswinging Declan Rice corner.

After a scrappy start from both sides, it was the home team who threatened first, but Bryan Mbeumo's first shot for United was calmly saved by David Raya.

Patrick Dorgu then fired wide from distance after a lively Mbeumo won a free-kick for the home team.

But it was Arsenal who struck first, as a mistake by Bayindir allowed Calafiori to head home at the far post, although the ball might have ended up in the net even without a touch.

Bruno Fernandes vented his frustration with a 17th-minute free-kick that he slammed straight into Rice in the wall.

Raya then did well under huge pressure from Matheus Cunha, to prod the ball away as he fell over, to deny the striker an easy finish into an empty goal. Moments later, Mbeumo saw a powerful shot deflect wide for a corner after doing well to cut inside.

Despite trailing, Ruben Amorim's side continued to press forward and were nearly level on the half-hour mark when Dorgu's shot from the edge of the box flew across goal and beat Raya, only to cannon back off the far post.

Cunha wasted another opportunity moments later when clean through on goal but rushed his shot and fired straight at Raya.

Arsenal were lacking sharpness, but Martin Odegaard was doing his best to get the Gunners going. However, he couldn’t beat Bayindir with his shot on 35 minutes. United ended the half the stronger of the two teams, with Cunha’s late strike from a tight angle looking destined for the net before Raya got a crucial touch.

A positive United side emerged for the second half, and Mason Mount latched onto a Luke Shaw pass to get a shot away, which was deflected wide of the target.

Viktor Gyokeres had struggled for Arsenal in the first half and couldn’t make the most of a good Odegaard pass, ultimately conceding a free-kick while trying to hold on to the ball.

Seemingly happy to let United dominate possession, Arsenal created little in the way of a goal threat until Rice fired a well-hit shot just over the bar from 20 yards.

Gyokeres was replaced by Kai Havertz, while Noni Madueke came on for his debut as a substitute for Gabriel Martinelli.

Manchester United brought on Benjamin Sesko for his English football debut, alongside Manuel Ugarte, who replaced Casemiro, while Mount also made way.

Mbeumo had a shot blocked before firing a bicycle kick wide, and Raya was again called into action to keep out a powerful header from the same player, who had connected well with a first-time Dorgu cross.

Mikel Arteta's side were increasingly pinned back as United pressed hard for an equaliser, struggling to get out of their own box.

Rice remained a threat from set-pieces but sent his 82nd-minute effort into the side netting. That proved to be his final contribution, as he was replaced by Mikel Merino for the closing minutes.

Ugarte fired in a late effort, though it failed to test Raya, while Bukayo Saka nearly killed the game in stoppage time with a close-range shot that was deflected out for a corner.

There were a few nervy moments for the Arsenal defence as they saw out the final minutes, but substitute Harry Maguire couldn't make the most of a Fernandes free-kick. Despite his side pushing until the finals minutes, Amorim had to settle for an opening-day defeat.

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