Why Victor Gyokeres failed to impress on his Arsenal debut while Bryan Mbeumo shined for Manchester United

With the most recent iteration of the Manchester United and Arsenal rivalry forged as a battle of the brand new massive cash forwards it was a matter of no little irony that the sport proved to be gained by a defender, the Gunners doing what they do greatest when kind eludes them, hitting the large man from a set piece. Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Previous Trafford was in the end a scrappy and underwhelming affair from each groups, the sense of progress at Manchester United solely serving to spotlight how far off the tempo the Pink Devils have been lately.

Nonetheless this sport afforded the world a possibility to evaluate six of probably the most highly-vaunted transfers of the window. Manchester United have overhauled their assault, however does the Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko trident seem like it would click on collectively? What of Viktor Gyokeres, the person who was vying with Sesko for a transfer to Arsenal all through the summer season, and his fellow new additions Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke? Let’s dive deep into how the debutants fared: 

1. Bryan Mbeumo

Of all Sunday’s debutants, Mbeumo might need been the one who regarded most settled in his new colours. That should not be an amazing shock, taking part in on the suitable of a entrance three with a wing again bombing past him is hardly unfamiliar for the previous Brentford man. Inside minutes Mbeumo had Previous Trafford on its toes, darting infield from the suitable and firing off a few harmful pictures. Whether or not it’s the plan for the long run is not going to be clear for some time but, however Ruben Amorim deployed his proper winger excessive and extensive, permitting him to shade defensive contribution and get the ball in harmful areas earlier than Riccardo Calafiori might scramble again. Towards a group struggling to get into their relaxation protection, this was supremely efficient.

You could not need for extra pictures from Mbeumo, and he arguably drew one of the best of David Raya’s seven save when he rose excessive to fulfill Patrick Dorgu’s cross with a strong header that bounced in entrance of the Spaniard. Better of all had been the flicks and first touches, one to spin Zubimendi early on and a diffident flick of his left boot that set the ball completely into the trail of Matheus Cunha. It was what got here subsequent that was the issue.

2. Matheus Cunha

Manchester United followers had been evidently impressed with their new Brazilian, voting Cunha man of the match for a efficiency that was typified by a stage of trade to usually missing from forwards at Previous Trafford. The 20 duels he hurled himself into had been probably the most of any participant on both aspect and the strain he utilized from heart ahead maybe goes some solution to explaining why Arsenal had been so free with their build-up play.

Equally Cunha himself might need been responsible of some quite careless selections in possession. The 26-year-old typified the 2 interlinked issues of United’s efficiency, the primary being a collection of rushed pictures that meant that 22 efforts on objective solely equated to an underwhelming 1.52 anticipated targets (xG). Final season was an excellent one when it comes to scoring return for Cunha, his 15 Premier League targets going an enormous solution to conserving Wolves within the division. He was, nevertheless, an terrible great distance forward of his xG of 8.65, his scoring numbers swelled by a string of sensible lengthy vary efforts that even the game’s greatest finishers solely internet so usually. Half of his pictures in 2023-24 got here from outdoors the field, as did 5 of his targets off 2.25 xG. Such a sizzling streak tends to not final endlessly.

On a couple of event he tried to conjure up extra magic once more on opening day, as did Mbeumo. Take the picture beneath, the place Cunha has simply acquired a wise flick from his fellow new signing with house between the traces. He might attempt to slip the ball again to Mbeumo, who’s shifting into an onside place. As a substitute he strikes tamely from vary. This is likely to be an indication of issues to return, however additionally it is hopefully not past the wit of Amorim to easily instruct Cunha to work the ball right into a extra advantageous taking pictures spot.

In fact, this picture speaks to the opposite hassle with United, how few gamers there have been across the penalty field when the hosts had been attacking. There might need been much more than 22 pictures if for the primary hour of the sport the cutbacks that went into the field had been geared toward anybody particularly. Because the nominal striker, maybe Cunha might have performed extra, however main the road just isn’t actually the Brazilian’s sport. He a lot most well-liked dropping off into the middle and the left channel, one thing which could have labored nicely if Mason Mount had been as pure at working in behind as Mbeumo. As a substitute United slipped into what too usually felt like a two man counter, counting on Cunha or Mbeumo to conjure one thing from nothing. Often they regarded like they may, as when Cunha breezed by means of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Gabriel, however this was a tricky ask for the debutants.

3. Benjamin Sesko

That modified no less than partially when, with 25 minutes left, Amorim turned to Sesko. A fast cameo is way too little on which to evaluate a uncooked striker whose affect ought to be assessed over years, not his first few video games, however there was treasured little to complain about. What did United want as they tried to show the tide late on? Penalty field presence. That is what they bought. Wayne Rooney was amongst these to supply certified reward for the debutant “He held the ball up,” United’s report goalscorer stated on his podcast, “he put himself in the course of the objective and he was ready to try to get probabilities, so I feel there’s lot of positives.”

Sesko ended his transient cameo with 4 penalty field touches and two pictures on objective. Extra spectacular nonetheless had been the probabilities he created, significantly the primary the place a stretching run in behind the Arsenal backline ended with him flicking the ball again into house. Finally it shouldn’t have been logged as a shot help for the Slovenian, Manuel Ugarte hitting and hoping from 30-ish yards when there have been loads of simpler methods he might have used the house. Nonetheless, issues occurred for United with Sesko on the pitch. That’s lots encouraging as begins go.

4. Viktor Gyokeres

Certainly, in these 25 minutes United’s new man ended up with extra penalty field touches than the participant Arsenal favored over him. Gyokeres took simply three, and probably the most harmful of these was additionally probably the most inauspicious. Lastly unleashed down the within left channel the place he was so devastating for Sporting, Gyokeres drove at Matthijs De Ligt and regarded to chop in onto his proper foot. As a substitute he contrived to tread on the ball, which spun backwards and despatched him scrabbling to present away a free kick. This was a attempting debut for the Swede, however maybe that was to be anticipated. In spite of everything, lots behind him had been struggling too.

Most encouraging, nevertheless, is how his teammates regarded to adapt their sport to make Gyokeres as efficient as potential. As mentioned at better size right here, this was the quickest Arsenal have performed of their three-plus seasons of Premier League title rivalry. There was a tangible dedication to get a fast ball as much as their striker, who has lengthy checked out his greatest as a kind of one man counter. Then once more, as is evidenced within the left contact map beneath, Gyokeres himself appeared to be attempting to adapt to Arsenal. He was not hovering in his favored spots however swung into each channels and dropped deep to help in construct up.

Bukayo Saka stated of his new group mate: “I used to be impressed with him and he battled for us. It was robust. There was a giant battle up there. I assumed he did nicely. “His efficiency provides us one thing to construct on and I’m positive it would assist him subsequent week. He has slotted in nicely and so have the opposite guys.”

Even in a sport with no pictures and no probabilities created, there have been flashes of Gyokeres working nicely, a wonderful cross demanding extra from Gabriel Martinelli than a volley try connecting with nothing however recent air. Flashes is what they had been although, and that must change shortly. A part of the rationale why Arsenal plumped for a 27-year-old as soon as of the Championship quite than Sesko, lengthy considered as Europe’s subsequent high striker, was the idea that Gyokeres might are available in and make a direct affect. There may be nonetheless time for that evaluation to be vindicated, after all, however there is likely to be work to do in the case of mixing the types of Gyokeres and Arsenal.

5. Martin Zubimendi

Ten minutes in it was not Gyokeres who would have had Arsenal followers jittering although. Zubimendi had captivated supporters in preseason and the stage appeared set for him to stamp his mark on Manchester United’s undermanned and inferior midfield. After which, pow, a free proper arm to the face from Zubimendi and the previous Actual Sociedad man appeared to be spinning. This was a correct welcome to the Premier League second and for some time it appeared that the Spaniard is likely to be overawed. Three of his first 4 passes went astray, however a good chunk of them had been flicks and lay offs, what was extra regarding was that Zubimendi could not actually get on the ball.

Finally, he by no means fairly stamped his mark on a sport that appeared ill-suited for a passing metronome. Crucially, in such bizarre circumstances, Zubimendi simply did the fundamentals nicely. After these three misplaced passes to start out the sport he didn’t give the ball away once more till the second half. Out of possession, the 26-year-old cleaned up play fairly properly and ate up the bottom with solely Martin Odegaard masking extra distance than him. There’ll probably be video games over the course of the season the place he completes 30 or 40 extra passes or makes his mark with an excellent by means of ball. In the remaining all Arteta would need from his deepest midfielder is a little bit of solidity, a efficiency that would go you by should you aren’t paying shut consideration. That was what Zubimendi delivered and it was completely wonderful.

6. Noni Madueke

With reference to completely wonderful, there’s not way more that may be stated about Madueke, whose half hour cameo concerned simply 15 touches of the ball. He created one taking pictures probability by taking part in the sensible ball to Declan Rice on the sting of the field and might need had a objective on the loss of life if Bruno Fernandes hadn’t bought a heroic boot on Bukayo Saka’s cross. There was not rather a lot to identify from Madueke however that’s no shock, Arsenal had been bunkering in on the loss of life.

What was maybe extra important for Madueke’s prospects at Arsenal had been the difficulties of the person he changed. Martinelli swung at recent air, struggled to search out his passing radar and had little different affect within the closing third. The Brazilian has borne the brunt of fan frustration in preseason and appears a neutered model of the devastating attacker of three years in the past. Arsenal are looking out for an attacker who can strengthen their choices on the flank however within the meantime it will not be a shock to see Madueke snare the beginning spot when Leeds arrive on the Emirates on Saturday night time.