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(Credit: Imago)
Jack Heath
Tue 19 August 2025 16:54, UK
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been subject to a bold prediction by one pundit after their nervy win 1-0 against Man United.
The Gunners started off their Premier League campaign with a tight win against Man United courtesy of a Riccardo Calafiori header in the first half.
It was by no means a glamorous performance by Arteta‘s team as United looked better in the attacking third with the additions of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo as the away side defended for their lives.
Moreover, it was a debut to forget for Viktor Gyokeres who struggled to get into the game, leading to him being hooked on 60 minutes.
The showing by Arsenal concerned both fans and pundits alike as Jamie O’Hara was shocked by Jason Cundy’s bold statement for the Gunners after the match.
The Swede struggled in his first league game (Credit: Imago)
Speaking on talkSPORT (18 August) former Tottenham players O’Hara and Cundy discussed the Gunners narrow win at Old Trafford.
The ex-Wolves midfielder jokingly referred to Arteta as “Mikel Pulis”, due their over-reliance on set-pieces and compact defending.
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Making fun of his north London rivals he said: “That’s a great result from Stoke [Arsenal] that.
Big result from Stoke City.
“I mean, they were terrible, weren’t they, Arsenal?
They stunk the gaff out.”
The former Chelsea defender Cundy, touching on the difficult nature of playing away to the Red Devils, then replied: “But, they came away with a win, you know, and it’s a tricky place, Old Trafford.
“Historically, Arsenal, it’s a bit of a bogey ground for them…it’s about the first game away from home.
Arsenal have done that.”
O’Hara and Cundy disagreed on the Gunners’ chance of winning the league
Cundy then shockingly added: “I think Arsenal are going to win the title, mate.”
This left his co-presenter astounded as he quickly fired back: “Arsenal are not winning the league.
“After watching that performance they are not winning the league…they were lucky to come away with something [v Man United], they got three points, [I] couldn’t believe it.”
Football Insider verdict
I spoke to a few United fans after a promising league opener and one supporter sent me a superb comment in regards to how bad the Gunners were: “Arsenal are just a poor man’s Burnley”.
First of all, no disrespect is meant towards the Clarets but the Spaniard set up his side to snatch a 1-0 lead and the park the bus for the rest of the 90 minutes.
As a Spurs fan, I was actually quite a big admirer of the former Everton midfielder when he arrived at the Emirates but as the seasons have gone on, his style of football has become quite unbearable.
Man UnitedArsenal61%Possession (%)39%0Big chances122Total shots91.52Expected goals (xG)1.312Saves73Corners4Stats from the United v Arsenal game (Source: Sofascore)
Indeed, three consecutive second place finishes are commendable, yet do Arsenal fans genuinely want to see this brand of stagnant and stale football?
It is the kind that can see you get narrow victories when playing tricky opponents, but it is also the style of play which will not see you win titles or any trophy for that matter.
The Red Devils were unfortunate to not come away with something on Sunday (17 August), but even Gunners fans were disappointed in their side’s negative performance.
For me, Liverpool and Man City are miles ahead of Arteta’s side in terms of winning the title, but let’s see if they turn on the style against Leeds United in their next Premier League fixture.
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