Arsenal's old guard delivers victory after a summer of intense change

It's been a summer of change for Arsenal, but this goal showed that plenty of things around the club have stayed the same. It was Arsenal's old players — and Arsenal's old corner routines — that got it over the line in this tense rivalry match.

Arsenal has always had a thing for corners under coach Mikel Arteta (and set piece coach Nicolas Jover.) The club scored a whopping 12 goals from corners in the Premier League last season, more than any other club in the league. Two of those 12 came against United — and both looked eerily similar to Calafiori's decisive goal on Sunday afternoon.

To hear Arteta tell it, he's not exactly thrilled with Arsenal's reputation as an exclusive dead-ball team. When asked how he'd trained his squad to be "kings of set pieces," Arteta was unequivocal. 

"Well we want to be the kings of everything," he shot back, via ESPN. "On set pieces, the best in the world. High press, the best in the world. Attacking in open spaces, the best in the world. We want to be the best at everything."

Arsenal's busy summer transfer window backs up Arteta's claim. The club signed Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, one of the most sought-after goalscorers in the world, despite strong competition from the likes of Manchester City. It strengthened its full-back depth with Chelsea man Noni Madueke and bolstered its midfield with Real Sociedad whiz Martin Zubimendi. Name any outfield position and Arsenal has upgraded it over the course of this summer. There's no question that the team is gunning for its first Premier League trophy since 2004.

But during the season opener against a resurgent Manchester United, it was the old guard, not the new signings, who looked truly improved and inspired. Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard looked brilliant (and back to his marauding best) after a less-than-stellar end to the 2024-25 season. Center backs Gabriel and William Saliba looked as imperious as ever in front of David Raya in goal. And Rice and Calafiori, a pair who collaborated on several of Arsenal's best goals last season, created a winning moment once again.

Arsenal's old guard needed no time to warm up for the 2025-26 season. They were ready to go the moment referee Simon Hooper blew his whistle.

The Arsenal newcomers, though? They still need some time to find themselves. Gyokeres spent much of the match isolated and uninvolved, and his attempts to sink deeper into the Arsenal lineup to get more time on the ball were shaky and ineffective. Arsenal hasn't played with a traditional center forward like Gyokeres in years and it's clear the club needs to give him better service.

As for Zubimendi, Arteta's assurance that he's had a "great integration" fell a bit flat after the Spanish midfielder failed to hold his ground against United's tricky full backs. Danish full back Patrick Dorgu in particular was able to work his way around Zubimendi on several occasions. He's not yet the intimidating defensive midfield presence he needs to be if he hopes to change Arsenal's fortune in the center of the park.

If Arsenal wants to be the "king of everything," it has plenty of work to do. But watching Arsenal win this match against the run of play — and win it off a known strength like set pieces — was promising. 

Arsenal may not yet be the king of everything, but it still delivered a royal performance under difficult circumstances.

Arsenal will return to Premier League action on Saturday against newly-promoted Leeds United.