Arsenal, Man City offer hope to Man Utd in Premier League openers

Manchester United will have the opportunity to assess their top six rivals before their game with Wolves, sparking suggestions that they could challenge for the league title. Arsenal showed vulnerability in their win against Nottingham Forest, while Manchester City displayed dominance despite injuries.

Manchester United will be eager to assess the performances of their top six rivals during the opening weekend before their game against Wolves on Monday night. Under the guidance of manager Erik ten Hag, the club has made sensible additions in the transfer market, including Andre Onana, Mason Mount, and Rasmus Hojlund, which has sparked speculation that they may have the strength to challenge for the league title once again.

Although the fixture schedule has placed United last in the running order, resulting in supporters having to wait a bit longer for their return to action, it does provide an early opportunity to analyze Manchester City and Arsenal. Let's take a closer look at what these early signs reveal about two of the clubs aiming to be part of the title race this season.

Arsenal began their campaign with a home game against Nottingham Forest, where Bukayo Saka's impressive finish stood out. Saka showcased the attacking quality of Mikel Arteta's side, with Eddie Nketiah also finding the back of the net and Gabriel Martinelli providing an assist. Arsenal displayed an attacking mindset by deploying Kai Havertz in an advanced midfield role and even having Thomas Partey venture forward from full-back. However, despite dominating the opening 20 minutes, they struggled to test Forest's goalkeeper due to their well-organized defense. A mistake from William Saliba gave Forest a chance to equalize, but they failed to capitalize. Arsenal went into halftime with a 2-0 lead but faced a nervy finish after conceding a goal. This suggests that the Gunners may have vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

On the other hand, Manchester City wasted no time in continuing their winning streak after securing a treble. They quickly opened the scoring against Burnley, with Erling Haaland impressively finding the back of the net twice, including a no-look finish. This served as a warning to other clubs hoping to challenge City's dominance. Despite Burnley's confidence as newly-promoted champions, City controlled the game and sealed a 3-0 victory. Rodri played a crucial role in maintaining the tempo, while their center-back partnership faced some challenges from Burnley's forwards. Additionally, Kevin De Bruyne's injury forced him off the pitch, which could potentially impact City's midfield performance in the coming weeks.

In conclusion, Manchester United will have gained valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of their top six rivals based on their opening weekend performances. While Arsenal showcased attacking prowess, they also displayed vulnerabilities in defense. On the other hand, Manchester City demonstrated their ability to dominate games but may face challenges if key players are unavailable. These early signs indicate that the race for the title will be highly competitive and unpredictable, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.