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Man Utd 0 Arsenal 1: Analysing Arsenal’s ‘new’ set piece, Amorim’s goalkeeper problem, watching Gyokeres and Sesko
Arsenal began their attempt to go one better in the Premier League title race this season with a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford thanks to a ‘new’ set-piece routine.
Avram Glazer was in attendance at Old Trafford and saw the team he co-owns line up without fit-again goalkeeper Andre Onana and striker Rasmus Hojlund, who The Athletic revealed has been told he faces a challenge to get minutes under Amorim. For Arsenal, 15-year-old midfielder Max Dowman travelled with the team but was not in the matchday squad.
Amorim chose Altay Bayindir to start in goal but he was powerless to stop Riccardo Calafiori heading in Declan Rice’s corner on 13 minutes. United responded well and Patrick Dorgu hit a post before David Raya saved superbly low down with his fingertips to deny Matheus Cunha.
New Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres, signed for an initial £55m ($75m) from Sporting CP, played an hour but struggled to make an impact, while Benjamin Sesko, United’s new striker signed from RB Leipzig as part of a new £200m attack appeared off the bench for the last 25 minutes.
Raya pushed away Bryan Mbeumo’s header and then Sesko headed wide after the ball was recycled as Manchester United pushed for an equaliser but Arsenal held firm and are now unbeaten in their past 15 Premier League away games.
The Athletic’s Carl Anka, Art de Roche and Ahmed Walid break down the key talking points.
How does Arsenal’s ‘new’ free-kick routine work?
It may be a new season, but that doesn’t mean Arsenal will stop being inventive from set pieces.
No team has scored more goals from set pieces, excluding penalties, (71) than them since the start of the 2021-22 season, when specialist coach Nicolas Jover arrived from Manchester City. Liverpool (64) and Manchester City (60) have the next highest tallies in the league.
The routine with five players starting at the edge of the box just before the corner is taken is not necessarily brand-new. They first trialled it against Tottenham Hotspur in their third game of pre-season this summer, and they benefited in their first corner of the season.
The two runners from those five (Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Zubimendi) helped cause more chaos centrally as the ball was delivered. Mason Mount should have dealt with William Saliba better, getting the wrong side of him and Bayindir, but all that meant less attention was paid to Calafiori at the back post.
Arsenal did score from the back post at a corner in pre-season, Christian Norgaard against Villarreal, but it was from a different routine. Either way, ensuring that space is free can often be more dangerous than what is going on in the centre of the goal.
Arsenal taking the lead from a set piece probably should not be a massive surprise either, considering where their goals against Manchester United came last season.
Art de Roche
What did Gyokeres do on his Premier League debut?
Viktor Gyokeres lasted just under an hour on his Premier League debut, which was somewhat reminiscent of his first start for Arsenal against Villarreal in pre-season.
The 27-year-old showed a willingness to make an impact but was just off in his execution at the vital moments. Matthijs de Ligt started on top in their individual battle but the Swede grew into the game and managed to give Arsenal an outlet at moments when they needed it.
As was the case in his pre-season starts, his runs in behind were not selfish ones. He often looked for his fellow attackers, Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, but overhit his passes and failed to take real advantage of the situations he was in.
That subpar decision-making was not just a theme of Gyokeres’ performance, but Arsenal’s as a team. From the opening exchanges, it seemed like Arteta’s side struggled to get up to pace with Manchester United, and were therefore playing in a more reactive than proactive way — even if they had some nice attacking moments.
Gyokeres and De Ligt had a physical battle (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
They will count themselves lucky for Raya, whose saves in both halves allowed them to just about start the season with a win and a clean sheet.
Kai Havertz wasn’t amazing in Gyokeres’ place, even with the fouls he won. So for Leeds United at the Emirates, Arsenal’s next game, the Swede shouldn’t have to worry about his starting spot.
Art de Roche
Do Manchester United have a goalkeeper problem?
Amorim said before the game that Onana had “recovered” from his hamstring injury but that he had decided on other options, choosing Bayindir to start.
The 27-year-old has had a strange two seasons in England. Where many clubs use their second-choice goalkeeper in the domestic cups, Bayindir is more of a classic deputy, mostly stepping in when Onana is injured, as he was in pre-season, or in need of a break.
Part of that is down to Bayindir’s more rudimentary passing ability and his weaknesses when defending corners. Last season saw him concede an Olympic goal and more than one team have opted to pack the six-yard box to limit his movement before a set piece is delivered.
Arsenal’s opening goal had an impressive setup to it, but it also owed a debt to Bayindir’s inability to wrestle past Saliba to get a proper handle of the ball as it was whipped in.
“The goalkeeper has got to be stronger,” said former Manchester United defender Gary Neville on Sky Sports commentary. “He will complain that he was fouled. He has a player in front of him; there is a lot of pushing and pulling, but he has to be stronger.”
Former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart said Bayindir should have used his left arm to push off Saliba, while using his right to punch the ball away. To be a successful Premier League No 1, a goalkeeper should know when to scrap as well as make saves. Bayindir’s comparative timidness — coupled with United’s inability to protect him on set pieces — mean the team has a soft underbelly at crucial moments.
Unfortunately for Amorim, this is not a problem that gets solved if he brings back Onana, who has trained only three times with the team since regaining fitness. The Cameroon international has also been vulnerable against teams that pack the six-yard box, and his ability to make saves has often been erratic.
Does this mean United should re-prioritise a goalkeeper signing before the summer window closes? The Athletic has reported that the club are unlikely to sign another goalkeeper unless one of Bayindir or Onana are sold. United fans may want a move for Gianluigi Donnarumma, but he too has difficulty when defending corners and high balls, despite his 1.96 m (6ft 5in) frame. Emiliano Martínez excels in this regard, but it is thought Aston Villa are unlikely to sanction a sale for less than £40million ($54.2m).
United have a confidence issue in and around their penalty area. Amorim may have to be bold when looking to fix it.
Carl Anka
What was better about United?
Since Amorim’s arrival in November 2024, Manchester United have looked like they lack the physicality to operate in the 3-4-3 shape and the principles the Portuguese head coach wants the team to abide by.
Amorim even spoke about the subject in his press conferences, explaining that one of the reasons United were performing better in the Europa League was the difference in physicality between it and the Premier League.
United were sharper off the ball (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Fast-forward to United’s opening game in the 2025-26 Premier League season against Arsenal, and United have looked sharper off the ball. The timing of their forward jumps looked better, there’s no hesitation when being tight to one of the Arsenal players and United won more duels in midfield.
The improvement in intensity and physicality doesn’t only help United out of possession, but it also creates more transitional opportunities for them. More than once in the first half United won the ball back and quickly switched the play towards Mbeumo down the right side, or carried the ball forward and had an effort on goal, like Dorgu, who struck the post in the 30th minute from an offensive transition.
Ahmed Walid
What did Sesko do off the bench?
There was a moment close to the 20-minute mark when Mbeumo’s pass found Diogo Dalot’s overlapping run in the final third. It was the sort of play that Amorim enjoys. A direct ball into the channels, won by his No 10, before a spare attacker burst into space against a disorganised defence.
The problem with Dalot’s run — outside of the fact it was about to be pulled back for offside — was that he had no one in the penalty box to direct a cross towards. Amorim’s front three of Mbeumo, Cunha and Mount offered a lot of off-ball energy and plenty of rotations, but limited penalty-box threat. After an hour played, United had mustered four shots on target compared to Arsenal’s three, but the majority came from wide angles with a lower chance of success, Cunha’s low shot the closest.
It was little surprise that Amorim turned to Sesko in the 65th minute. The striker replaced Mount at the tip of the attacking spear and got right to work, hunting the spaces between Gabriel and Calafiori in the event a team-mate could find him with a quick pass in behind.
A quick run prior to the second-half water break was smart; as the ball was carried on the left wing, the striker bolted across Gabriel and Saliba to drag both centre-backs away from Mbeumo lurking at the back post. Mbuemo and Amad couldn’t quite sort their feet out to have a proper shot on goal.
Sesko came off the bench for the final half an hour (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Five minutes later, Sesko would again bolt from his preferred hunting ground and in towards the penalty spot when chasing a cross from Dorgu. The ball sailed over his head to Mbeumo, whose header was saved. The striker’s burst of pace over the first five yards will make him a handful for Premier League defenders this season. Sesko’s willingness to press from the front will please Amorim and season-ticket holders alike.
His first touch will take some time to sharpen up, as will his timing when leaping for crosses. But the energy is there. As is a sense of movement and ability to tussle with defenders that marks him above Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
Sesko brought a combative focal point to a United team that had spent too many games without one last season. The 22-year-old will ultimately be judged on how many goals he brings to Amorim’s team, but there were promising moments in his half-hour appearance
Carl Anka
What did Amorim say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What did Arteta say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for United?
Sunday, August 24: Fulham (Away), Premier League, 4.30pm UK, 11.30am ET
What next for Arsenal?
Saturday, August 23: Leeds (Home), Premier League, 5.30pm UK, 12.30pm ET
(Photo: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Russia says it will not discuss foreign troops in Ukraine in ‘any format’ | Politics News
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman says deployment of a post-conflict security force would be ‘fundamentally unacceptable’.
Published On 4 Sep 2025
Russia has flatly rejected the prospect of any talks that consider the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that Moscow would not entertain discussion of an international post-conflict security force “in any format”.
“Russia is not going to discuss the fundamentally unacceptable and security-undermining foreign intervention in Ukraine in any form, in any format,” Zakharova told reporters on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
Zakharova said that European leaders, who are working on plans for a multinational force in the event of an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, should take note that the “next time they aim to discuss this topic, they should have a pointer in the form of Russia’s position”.
“Judging by Ukraine’s losses, the European Commission has simply outdone itself,” she said.
Zakharova made her comments after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told The Financial Times earlier this week that the European Union had “pretty precise plans” for deploying a multinational force to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders are set to meet in Paris on Thursday to firm up details of post-conflict security guarantees for Kyiv.
On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said the details of the security guarantees for Ukraine had been worked out but remained “extremely confidential”.
“We are ready, we the Europeans, to offer the security guarantees to Ukraine and Ukrainians the day that a peace [accord] is signed,” Macron said.
Despite United States President Donald Trump’s pledge to bring a swift end to the conflict, Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on the terms of any potential peace agreement.
Russia has said that any deal with Ukraine would need to include land in four regions it has annexed since 2022, while Kyiv has ruled out ceding any territory.
Trump is scheduled to speak with Zelenskyy by phone on Thursday, and has said he intends to speak to Putin in the coming days.
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Louisiana prison chosen for immigration detainees due to its notoriety, says Noem | US immigration
The Trump administration purposefully chose a notorious Louisiana prison to hold immigration detainees as a way to encourage people in the US illegally to self-deport, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday.
A complex inside the Louisiana state penitentiary, an immense rural prison better known as Angola, will be used to detain those whom Noem described as the “worst of the worst” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) detainees. Noem was speaking to reporters as she stood on the grounds of the facility near a new sign reading, “Louisiana Lockup.”
“This facility will hold the most dangerous of criminals,” Noem said, adding it had “absolutely” been chosen for its reputation.
Officials said 51 detainees were already being housed at Angola. But Louisiana governor Jeff Landry said he expects the building to be filled to capacity, expecting over 400 people to come in ensuing months, as president Donald Trump continues his large-scale attempt to remove millions of people suspected of entering the country illegally.
The dirt road to the new Ice facility meanders past lofty oak trees, green fields and other buildings – including a white church and a structure with a sign that says, “Angola Shake Down Team”.
The facility is surrounded by a fence with five rows of stacked barbed wire. Overlooking the outdoor area is a tower, where a guard paced back and forth.
At the prison entrance a sign reads: “You are entering the land of new beginnings.”
The Associated Press joined officials for a brief tour of the facility, viewing some of the cells where detainees would be held. The cells, built of three cinder block walls and steel bars on the front, were single occupancy – one bed, toilet and sink in each.
Outside were confined enclosures of chain-link fencing, tall enough for multiple people to stand in.
“If you don’t think that they belong in somewhere like this,” Landry said of the detainees during Wednesday’s news conference, “you’ve got a problem.”
The building holding Ice detainees is not new, but rather refurbished after sitting vacant for years. The rest of Angola, which is made up of many buildings, has remained active. Many of Angola’s 6,300 inmates still work the fields, picking long rows of vegetables by hand as armed guards patrol on horseback.
In addition, the prison is home to more than 50 death row inmates. The most recent execution was in March, using nitrogen gas to deprive the inmate of oxygen, causing death. The state’s electric chair, nicknamed “Gruesome Gertie”, is still on display in the prison’s museum.
The notoriety of the 18,000-acre (7,300-hectare) prison stretches back well over a century. Described in the 1960s and 1970s as “the bloodiest prison in America,” it has seen violence, mass riots, escapes, brutality, inhumane conditions and executions.
The Trump administration has crafted its immigration messaging to reinforce a tough-on-crime image and create a sense of fear among people in the US illegally, most pointedly with the detention center dubbed Alligator Alcatraz that it built in the Florida Everglades.
The Everglades facility may soon be completely empty after a judge upheld her decision ordering operations there to wind down indefinitely.
Racing to expand the infrastructure necessary for increasing deportations, the federal government and state allies have announced a series of new immigration detention facilities, including the “Speedway Slammer” in Indiana and the “Cornhusker Clink” in Nebraska.
The approximate 400 people the Angola immigration facility will be able to hold is just a tiny percentage of the more than 100,000 people that Ice seeks to detain under a $45bn expansion for immigration detention centers that Trump signed into law in July.
The prison traces its history back to a series of wealthy slave traders and cotton planters who built an operation known as Angola Plantation. An 1850s news report said it had 700 slaves, who historians say were forced to work from dawn to dark in Louisiana’s brutal summer heat.
The plantation became the state prison after the Civil War, with a former Confederate officer awarded a lease that gave him control over the property and its convicts.
“The majority of black inmates were subleased to land owners to replace slaves while others continued levee, railroad, and road construction,” the museum’s website says. White inmates at the time worked as clerks or craftsmen.
Inmate leasing ended in the late 1800s amid a public outcry, and the state took direct control of the prison in 1901.
The Trump administration is opening a new camp within a notorious state prison in Louisiana to house undocumented migrants accused of committing crimes, officials announced today.
The new detention center, called “Camp 57,” will be at the country’s largest maximum-security prison, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as Angola, an 18,000-acre facility located an hour north of Baton Rouge. It will have the capacity to house over 400 men, Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said today at a news conference, half of whom will be sent there by the end of September.
Administration officials said Camp 57 is designed to hold the “worst of the worst” and pointed to it as a sign of success amid their ongoing campaigns against both illegal immigration and violent crime — both of which are key to Trump’s agenda.
The facility’s name is a nod to Landry, the state’s 57th governor, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told CNN. It is being repurposed from an existing facility that was not in use, Landry said.
Camp 57 is “not just a typical ICE detention facility that you may see in another state, somewhere else in this country,” Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said. “Instead, this facility will hold the most dangerous of criminals that have been out there harming individuals in this country.”
Though Camp 57 will be isolated from the prison’s normal criminal population, Louisiana’s prison system has been accused of forcing incarcerated individuals at Angola to work in dangerous conditions for little to no pay — including accusations that inmates were made to pick vegetables by hand in temperatures over 100 degrees at what was once a slave plantation.
Noem said the prison’s infamous reputation was “absolutely” a reason officials chose it as the location for Camp 57.
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