Positives & negatives from Arsenal's 1-0 win at Manchester United

Riccardo Calafiori's first-half header from under the bar edged Arsenal past Manchester United to start the Premier League campaign on the right note, but there were worrying reminders about a lack of creativity.

Arsenal still know how to turn a set-piece into gold, but there's little else from Mikel Arteta's team at the business end of the pitch. Fortunately, the Gunners refused to budge at the back against a new-look United forward line not short on muscle and effort.

The visitors also had David Raya to thank for standing tall and staying strong in critical moments. He made a pair of smart saves and dominated his box against United's own attempts to pose a threat from set-pieces.

Raya underpinned a back four led brilliantly by solid and committed centre-backs Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, but Arsenal won't be able to park the bus for a whole season and take the title. That's going to take some initiative going forward, a quality sadly lacking from a dire performance through midfield and up top, particularly on the flanks.

Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka were merely along the for the ride, while £64-million newcomer Viktor Gyökeres would likely give his kingdom for a precision through-pass or a cross weighted just right.

A win is a win, but this one is of the dirty variety, and these three points prompt more concern than merriment.

Positives & negatives from Arsenal's 1-0 win at Manchester United

Positive #1: David Raya unbeatable

It's easy to question most of Mikel Arteta's transfers, not to mention his overly cautious tactical approach, but the manager deserves immense credit for choosing Raya over Aaron Ramsdale. The decision prompted a ton of heat at the time, but Raya continues to make the switch look like a masterstroke.

Raya was at his best when called upon against United. Notably, when he kept burly Matthijs de Ligt at bay, leapt high and punched a Bruno Fernandes delivery well clear.

It was the polar opposite of Altay Bayindir's timid flapping at Declan Rice's devilish in-swinging corner nodded in by Calafiori. Those two moments decided this match, but Raya also earned plaudits by getting down quickly to palm away a low drive by lively Matheus Cunha.

Later, Raya was swift to dive and get stong hands on a robust effort from Bryan Mbeumo. The latter was a relentless menace, but Raya was in no mood to be beaten, regardless of how often Mbeumo and the rest of United's attackers tried to force the issue at the expense of increasingly resolute Gabriel and Saliba.

A goalkeeper offering Raya-like levels of surety is worth real points each season. It's why the man between the sticks for Arsenal remains the envy of most of the division and an X-factor for his own team's title hopes.

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