Rúben Amorim has confirmed that Benjamin Šeško could start as Manchester United welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
After a five-match pre-season that took them to Sweden, the United States, and back to Old Trafford, Rúben Amorim’s Manchester United are set for the start of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
United picked up wins over West Ham and Bournemouth, while draws with Leeds United, Everton, and Fiorentina meant they went unbeaten. A penalty shootout victory against the Italian side added the Snapdragon Cup to their summer haul.
The focus now turns to Sunday, 17 August, when Arsenal visit Old Trafford in the headline fixture of the opening weekend.
Several players are in line for their competitive debuts, with Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo expected to feature for United, while Viktor Gyökeres, Martin Zubimendi, and Noni Madueke could make their first appearances for Mikel Arteta’s team.
Amorim confirms latest on Šeško
With the tie just a few days away, many United fans are excited at the prospect of possibly seeing Šeško play in Manchester Red for the first time, considering he has already had a week’s worth of training with his new teammates.
Amid the possibility that Rasmus Højlund could also be heading out on loan to AC Milan in the coming days, it’s unlikely he will feature, which puts forward the possibility that Šeško could be named in Amorim’s starting XI.
Speaking to journalists on Friday afternoon, Amorim was asked if Šeško could start on Sunday afternon after his full week of training.
“I can see Ben being a striker at this club for many years,” Amorim replied. “That is why we paid a lot of money.
“He didn’t have a lot of time [training], but physically he is ready. That is a big component in our league. He’s ready to play, and we’ll see if he starts.”
When asked about the types of questions Šeško has been asking in training, Amorim replied, “I really like that, especially when it’s smart questions. He listens, and he wants to perform, so that is very good.”
The pressure to win is on Arsenal
After finishing 15th last season, United are not expected to deliver a flawless league campaign – everyone around the club understands that while progress is essential, setbacks are inevitable.
Read More: Man Utd star ‘formally asks’ to leave the club this summer as Rúben Amorim sets £40m demand
By contrast, after three consecutive second-place finishes, Arsenal’s sights are firmly set on winning the Premier League, piling the pressure on Arteta’s side this weekend.
A victory at Old Trafford on the opening day would send a powerful message from the Gunners as they aim to finally overtake Manchester City and Liverpool. But a defeat – or even a flat performance – against last year’s 15th-placed side would instantly raise concerns.
Although a strong display is crucial for Amorim in his first home match, the greater burden of expectation rests on the visitors.
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