Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes that one Manchester United star produced a performance that was comparable to the exploits of both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Ruben Amorim turned to both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo and handed the Manchester United summer signings their Premier League debuts on Sunday.
Cunha was deployed in the left-sided No 10 position vs Arsenal and Mbeumo was on the opposite flank in the same role in Ruben Amorim’s tactical system for United.
The two United signings saw out the full 90 minutes in the attack and Cunha and Mbeumo initially played alongside Mason Mount for the start of the match.
However, Cunha and Mbeumo would also have the opportunity to play alongside fellow summer signing Benjamin Sesko after Amorim withdrew Mason Mount.
The Red Devils kicked off the 2025-26 Premier League season at Old Trafford and United ultimately fell short to Arsenal in their first match of the new campaign.
What Ian Wright spotted about Matthijs de Ligt amid the Man Utd performances of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo vs Arsenal
Arsenal sealed a 1-0 win over United at Old Trafford and the Gunners walked away with all three Premier League points in their opening match of the league campaign.
Altay Bayindir was at fault for the first-half opener – and later winner – after the United shot-stopper failed to effectively clear Declan Rice’s corner at Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old Turkey international palmed the ball to his United back post from the cross and defender Riccardo Calafiori arrived in time to head in from close range.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Ian Wright admitted that both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo performed “well” for the Red Devils at Old Trafford.
However, the 61-year-old former England and Arsenal striker also suggested that Matthijs de Ligt was a standout performer in the three-man backline on Sunday.
“It is a hard one to take,” Wright said, as per the Metro.
“I thought [Matthijs] de Ligt played very well, Cunha played well, Mbeumo played well, they didn’t deserve to lose it like that on a keeper’s poor technique.
“It’s a terrible way to lose the game.”
Ian Wright is deeply critical of Altay Bayindir’s mistake for Man Utd in the 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford
Altay Bayindir started ahead of Tom Heaton against Arsenal and United No 1 Andre Onana was left out of the squad amid his recovery from his pre-season injury.
Wright pulled no punches towards Bayindir after the mistake against Arsenal and the footballer-turned-pundit argued that United need to sign a new shot-stopper.
“We have seen what happens with Andre Onana, we see it with Bayindir today and he is nowhere near it,” he explained.
“Man United with the money they have spent, they need more goals and addressed that and I think Cunha and Mbeumo were very good today but what is the point when your goalkeepers are going to be that bad.
“I don’t know what is happening with [Gianluigi] Donnarumma, I don’t know if he’s coming here but they [United] really need to sort that goalkeeping situation out because they have lost the game on that.”
Matthijs de Ligt started Sunday’s 1-0 defeat in the three-man backline and the 26-year-old Dutchman produced a solid showing from start to finish in his 90 minutes.
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