Arsenal vs Manchester United
Arsenal and Manchester United are going to meet in New York this weekend for a Club Friendly as part of their pre-season tours in the United States.
The preparations of these two Premier League rivals for the 2023-24 season are underway, with both clubs having played a handful of games already.
Last Friday, Arsenal went to Germany to face Nurnberg, which ended in a draw, and then they just defeated the MLS All-Stars yesterday in Washington.
Meanwhile, Manchester United took on Leeds United in Norway and Lyon in Scotland last night. Both were victories and clean sheets, too.
Furthermore, the Gunners and the Red Devils went to work this summer transfer window, so they’ll use this chance to integrate their newest additions and give ample opportunities to their seldom-used players.
Talking Points
New recruits settling in for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta got a glimpse of what his squad will look like in this upcoming season during their victory against the MLS All-Stars. Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, and Kai Havertz played meaningful minutes, and they were as good as advertised.
Rice played as the pivot man for the Gunners, and he was solid. He did his job well by defending deep, and he looked composed with the ball on his feet.
Timber can play as a centre-back or a full-back, and last night, he played as a right-sided full-back. His versatility was on full display, as he was comfortable operating either in the middle or in the wings.
Havertz was probably the busiest new recruit for Arsenal. After scoring none of his 14 shots in the MLS All-Star Skills cross-and-volley challenge, he recorded his first goal for the club after 89 minutes against the MLS All-Stars.
All of them should get more run when they face Manchester United on Saturday.
Onana’s arrival imminent, van de Beek’s triumphant return
Andre Onana is expected to be the first-choice goalkeeper for Manchester United following the departure of David de Gea earlier this month.
The acquisition of Onana didn’t come cheap, as Inter Milan will receive a fixed fee of €51 million plus €4 million in add-ons. The Cameroonian’s contract with the Red Devils is valid until June 2028, with a player option for 2029.
Erik ten Hag always wanted a goalie who’s good with his feet when handling the ball, and he got it in Onana, who he has worked with before at Ajax.
Onana just finished his medical, and the club will soon announce him. The hope is that he’ll make it in time for their USA pre-season tour.
If Onana doesn’t make it, Matej Kovar will be the man between the posts for Manchester United. The Czech goalkeeper is fresh from a successful loan spell with Sparta Prague last season, when he was the Golden Glove winner after helping them win their first championship since 2014.
Much has been said about the addition of Mason Mount, but Onana’s old friend, Donny van de Beek, will feel like a new signing if he sustains his progress. After a long injury layoff, the Dutchman scored the winning goal against Lyon last night, much to everyone’s delight.
His future at Old Trafford remains unclear, but Erik ten Hag might give him another chance, especially if they won’t be able to sign another midfielder this summer.
History
Arsenal and Manchester United have shared countless battles across all competitions for more than a century. In the 239 encounters prior to this weekend, the Red Devils have the edge with 99 wins, while the Gunners have won 87 times along with 53 draws.
Last season, Arsenal and Manchester United exchanged home wins in the Premier League, with the Red Devils winning 3-1 in their September match and the Gunners winning 3-2 last January.
In the 2022-23 campaign, Arsenal were on top of the Premier League for the most part, but they ceded the title to Manchester City when they faltered towards the end. On the bright side, they are finally back in the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons.
Manchester United, on the other hand, started the season on a bad note with demoralising losses to Brighton and Brentford, but they eventually finished third in the standings. And to top it all off, they ended their six-year trophy drought when they won the EFL Cup.
Goals have come in bunches whenever these two face off, so SBOTOP football fans can expect to see multiple Club Friendly 2023 highlights from New York this Saturday, and the Club Friendly 2023 odds seem to agree.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
