Man Utd told only ONE player would get into Arsenal XI in damning assessment

Manchester United kick off their Premier League season on Sunday by hosting Arsenal at Old Trafford – and they will still be a long way off their opponents, despite a £200million summer spend

Manchester United are so far behind Arsenal that just one of their players would make it into the Gunners’ starting XI, according to Lee Dixon. The two clubs meet at Old Trafford on Sunday and the former Arsenal defender is convinced the away side will leave victorious.

United finished 15th in the Premier League last season, with their 1-0 defeat by Tottenham in the Europa League final compounding a miserable campaign by ensuring no European football in 2025/26.

The club have responded by spending over £200million to sign Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to bolster a front line which managed a meagre 44 goals in 38 league games last season.

But despite their ambitious summer recruitment, Dixon still believes that United’s team is lagging far behind the Gunners, who finished second for the third straight campaign in 2024/25.

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“I’m struggling to think of a Manchester United player that would get into Arsenal’s first 11. Only Bruno Fernandes could lay claim to a spot,” he told 10bet while predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal.

“You’d have to put Sesko and Gyokeres in the same bracket, because neither of them have shown what they can do in the Premier League yet. We need to see them here and see how they handle it. Sesko could score 10 in the first six, who knows, and then he’d walk into a best-of 11.

“But the standout for United over the years has been Bruno. He’s got match-winning ability. We’ve all got an opinion on when he has a strop and throws his arms up, but he is a winning character. He’d be getting in there, but it would be him and him alone.”

Dixon feels that, while they’ve recruited well up front, United have neglected their defence. “They won a few games and while it wasn’t a scintillating summer, they bought well,” he added.

“Mbeumo’s a good player, so is Sesko, and obviously Cunha too. We know what they can do, and if that works in that little triangle, with Fernandes behind them somewhere, it should be dangerous,

“I’m still unsure about them at the back. I’m still unsure about them in midfield. Has a lot changed at United? I wouldn’t say a huge amount. They look a bit top heavy. I think there’s still a lot of questions.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal have signed Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Cristhian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga to balance their squad out better.

“If you’re Mikel Arteta, you are way more comfortable with the balance of your team in comparison to United. But it’s Old Trafford, anything can happen there,” Dixon said.

“Amorim’s got a big season ahead because he’s been given money, this is going to be his team. He’s been unwavering in his approach tactically, he won’t change that, but now he has to deliver results. I’m still not sure that the players he’s got from midfield, backwards, are gonna help those three up front.”

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