Ruben Amorim can do something no Manchester United boss has since Louis van Gaal vs Arsenal

Ruben Amorim can do something no Manchester United boss has since Louis van Gaal vs Arsenal

Man United head coach Ruben Amorim will be keen to see his side make a strong start to the new Premier League season.

Ruben Amorim (centre) should hand out debuts to Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo against Arsenal. (Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images.)

Sunday's Premier League opener against Arsenal at Old Trafford will mark the beginning of a new dawn at Manchester United.

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After a miserable 2024/25 campaign, the Reds are looking forward to a first full season under head coach Ruben Amorim with a sense of optimism and excitement.

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Following their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao in May, it was feared United could struggle to attract the players they wanted in the transfer market amid the absence of Champions League football.

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However, with just over two weeks to go until the deadline, United are still in with a very good chance of enjoying their best transfer window in years.

They have made four new signings thus far, three of whom have been drafted in to try and sharpen their forward line. Matheus Cunha has arrived from Wolves, Bryan Mbeumo has checked in from Brentford and Benjamin Sesko has joined the club from RB Leipzig.

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The trio, before accounting for possible add-ons, have cost United a whopping £193.9million. However, it was obvious to everyone they would have to break the bank to fix their biggest weakness.

Cunha, who was signed from Wolves after his £62.5m release clause was triggered, scored 17 goals last season, and Mbeumo netted 20 for Brentford. He has cost United an initial fee of £65m.

The duo are set to occupy the two No.10 positions in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system, providing support for new striker Sesko, who finalised his move to Old Trafford last weekend.

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Signing a centre-forward had to be United's main priority this summer after finishing last season's Premier League campaign with a negative goal difference of -10. Chief striker Rasmus Hojlund scored a paltry four league goals last term.

Rasmus Hojlund could leave Old Trafford ahead of the window closing. (Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images.)

With Hojlund being left out of the starting XI for United's last two warm up matches, it is incredibly likely Sesko will make his debut for the club as a starter against the Gunners. He will have had a full week's worth of training by the time Sunday comes around.

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With United spending almost £200m to assemble their new attack, there is no chance of Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko coming to Old Trafford to warm the bench. They have been brought in to start and set about the challenge of boosting United's attacking output.

Poised to be unleashed as a front-three for the first time this weekend, it will mark the first time since 2015 that at least three new signings have been included in United's starting XI for their Premier League opener.

Louis van Gaal was the last United manager to throw at least three new recruits straight into the XI for a Premier League curtain-raiser, handing out debuts to Sergio Romero, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay for a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford a decade ago.

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One of the biggest positives about United's recruitment this summer is that they have been able to secure the signatures of three high profile signings before the season has even started. That offers a massive boost in several different ways.

Despite securing four of their five new additions ahead of last season's curtain-raiser, Noussair Mazraoui was the only starter. Fellow new recruit Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench to score the winner.

With a new-look attack ready and raring to go this time around, Amorim will be hoping he doesn't have to turn to the bench.

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