Ruben Amorim faced his first Premier League defeat as Manchester United manager, falling to Arsenal in what proved to be a reality check for the Portuguese coach. The loss, Amorim’s first league defeat since December 2023, highlighted the challenges he faces in reshaping United.
After an impressive run with Sporting CP, where Amorim enjoyed a dominant spell, he had warned before the match that tough times were inevitable, despite United’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Everton the previous weekend. “The storm will come. We are going to have difficult moments and will be found out in some games,” he said in his pre-match press conference. That storm hit at the Emirates, with Arsenal exploiting United’s vulnerabilities on corners. Goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba marked the first time since January 2014 that United conceded twice from corners in a Premier League match.
Match Fitness Issues
Amorim pointed to fitness concerns as a factor, acknowledging a “time limit” on certain players due to injury management and recovery needs. Tyrell Malacia, starting his first Premier League match since May 2023, was substituted at halftime after successfully limiting Bukayo Saka in the first half. Harry Maguire was also taken off around the hour mark, and Amorim cited ongoing fitness considerations for players like Mason Mount and young Leny Yoro.
The situation also influenced Amorim’s team selection, with United making six changes to the starting lineup—the most since the final day of the 2022/23 season, when preparations for the FA Cup final were underway. The defeat underscored the size of the rebuild Amorim is overseeing at Old Trafford.
