Manchester United were unfortunate to lose 1-0 to Arsenal on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
It was an intense encounter at Old Trafford, with Man United dominating for most of the match.
Sadly, it was a goalkeeping error that resulted in Arsenal’s winner early in the first half.
Despite this blunder, United appeared revitalised following their successful pre-season tour, with their new signings proving particularly effective on the attack.
Magic feet
If there was one attacker that showed excellent quality on the ball, it was Matheus Cunha.
Perhaps his stand out moment came in the 32nd minute, when he breezed past four Arsenal defenders on a solo run from his own team’s final third all the way to the opponents’ box. Unfortunately, his shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
Cunha completed four of his six dribbled on the day, more than any other player from either side.
He ended up winning eight of 20 duels, including seven of 14 ground battles and one of six aerial duels.
The Brazilian’s passing was also overwhelmingly precise. He completed 14 of his 16 passes, resulting in an 88% passing accuracy.
He also happened to make one key pass.
An eye for goal
Even though he was unable to find the back of the net, Cunha’s shooting was impressive to say the least.
He took four shots – three of which were on target and one which was blocked.
Despite being under pressure when taking several of his shots, Cunha refused to allow this to phase him. He still showed a great eye for goal, never getting a shot off target no matter the circumstance.
Ultimately, it was a highly promising exhibition from Cunha, which surely would have excited United fans as they look forward to the new season.
Featured image Stu Forster via Getty Images
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Mathew Cohen
A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
