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On Wednesday, the 2025/26 Premier League fixtures were released, setting up a challenging start to the season for Arsenal.
Before facing 2024/25 title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool within their first six league matches, the Gunners will begin their campaign with a trip to Old Trafford.
A Manchester United vs Arsenal clash is always a highly anticipated fixture, but Gooners may not be looking forward to this one given the frustration of their last visit.
United’s approach left fans frustrated
That previous meeting, a Premier League matchday 28 fixture at Old Trafford, left Arsenal supporters exasperated. Despite not facing a recognised striker, United never attempted to go toe-to-toe with the Gunners.
Perhaps knowing they would struggle, United opted for a compact low block and launched counter-attacks to disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm. While their plan worked, resulting in a 1-1 draw courtesy of a Bruno Fernandes goal and a Declan Rice equaliser, it was not a game many fans enjoyed.
Rúben Amorim’s tactics received heavy criticism after the match. Many questioned whether his cautious approach aligned with the traditions of Manchester United or if it exposed tactical limitations.
Amorim defended himself at the time, saying via the Man United website:
“When you coach Manchester United, you cannot play this way too often. The idea is to win the game. You imagine one way to win in this context. I know it’s frustrating for the fans. Sometimes, we have to do things that are not popular. It’s also about the opponent. We try to pick the best moments to press high and had some instances of winning the ball. In the future, we won’t play like this, but we just wanted to win. I think our fans understood the moment.”
Time for United to show more ambition?
While Arsenal fans are unlikely to be concerned about United’s tactical plan, they will be hoping Amorim and his team have the courage to play a more open and attacking game.
Supporters want matchday one to produce an electrifying contest between two of England’s most historic rivals, with the hope that Arsenal can start the season on the front foot.
Regardless of which side you support, the question remains, will we finally get a performance worthy of this iconic fixture?
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
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Dustin Rhodes Assigns Blame After Hulk Hogan’s Death
Following the shocking news of Hulk Hogan’s passing, wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes, known to millions as Goldust in WWE, took to social media to share a deeply personal and provocative reaction: “Hospitals truly kill people. I really do mean that.” Rhodes’ blunt statement stunned many fans, but those who know his story saw the pain behind the words. His father, the iconic Dusty Rhodes, passed away in 2015, aged 69, after a fall at home led to hospitalization for kidney failure. After his father's passing, Dustin shared a contemplative response on WWE's YouTube channel to discuss the legacy his father left behind. The news of Hogan's death comes just a month after reports suggested he was on his "deathbed" after undergoing a neck procedure back in May. Hogan's reps denied that was the case. In June, US Weekly reported that Hogan had also undergone a "pretty serious heart surgery and was doing well afterward." Dustin’s connection to his brother Cody Rhodes, now a top WWE superstar and face of the company’s next generation, is unbreakable. The Rhodes family legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of pro wrestling history, and seeing another legend like Hogan pass has clearly hit close to home. While Goldust and Hulk Hogan never had a headline-grabbing rivalry, they did share the ring once. It occurred in WCW in 2000 when Dustin Rhodes matched up against Hogan. Although their paths didn’t often cross in the squared circle, Hogan and the Rhodes family were part of the same larger-than-life era that helped define pro wrestling for decades and catapult the sport into society's zeitgeist. Rhodes’ comment about hospitals might not sit well with everyone, but it speaks to a raw and honest pain felt by someone who has seen too many legends, both personal and professional, fade away in similar fashion. The sport of wrestling has endured more than its fair share of lives cut short. As tributes continue to pour in for Hogan, Rhodes’ reaction serves as a powerful, if somber, reminder of the real human emotions behind the wrestling personas.
Seattle Storm Get Big Boost for Sky Game Amid Unexpected Angel Reese News
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