Arsenal vs Manchester United score, result as Fernandes, Sancho goals blank Gunners 2-0 in preseason friendly

Simon Borg

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Arsenal vs Manchester United score, result as Fernandes, Sancho goals blank Gunners 2-0 in preseason friendly image

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Prior to the preseason exhibition against Arsenal, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag made a point to tell the media that "we don't play friendlies." The Red Devils backed up that statement with a 2-0 blanking of the Gunners on Saturday afternoon at a sold-out MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Goals by Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho in the span of eight minutes in the first half were enough to give United a third straight preseason shutout victory.

Both goals were helped by Arsenal defensive errors. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saw the Bruno Fernandes shot skip in front of him and into the back of the net. Arsenal centre-back Gabriel whiffed on an attempted clearance, paving the way for Jadon Sancho to take it all the way.

There was hardly an Arsenal response to a Manchester United side that weathered a few early Arsenal chances by Gabriel Martinelli and then grabbed control of the game, including with physical challenges and quick transitions. Arsenal never mustered enough of a challenge in the second half, which saw the usual slew of subs.

It was a deserved win by United, which was the most effective team on the day, and with the best plan. Arsenal gave starts to new arrivals Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, and Jurrien Timber, but none made an impact on the game. Mason Mount started for Man United, but he was also still trying find his place. New goalkeeper signing Andre Onana was in the stadium, but not on the match sheet for United.

Highlights (Rest of World): Man United YouTube

Highlights (USA):

Both teams will next be heading to the West Coast for their next matches. Man United will meet Wrexham in San Diego on Tuesday night, while Arsenal face off against Barcelona on Wednesday, July 26 provided the Spanish club overcomes a stomach bug that forced the cancellation of their friendly against Juventus on July 22.

Arsenal vs Manchester United final score

  Final Goal scorers
Arsenal 0  
Man United 2 - Bruno Fernandes 30'
- Jadon Sancho 37'

Lineups:

Arsenal 1st Half (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Ramsdale (GK) — 12-Timber, 2-Saliba, 6-Gabriel, 18-Tomiyasu — 8-Odegaard, 41-Rice, 29-Havertz — 7-Saka, 14-Nketiah, 11-Martinelli.

Arsenal 2nd Half (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Ramsdale (GK) — 12-Timber (4-White 59'), 2-Saliba (20-Jorginho 71'), 6-Gabriel, 3-Tierney — 8-Odegaard, 41-Rice (5-Partey 59'), 29-Havertz (21-Vieira 71') — 7-Saka (10-Smith Rowe 71'), 14-Nketiah (19-Trossard 71'), 11-Martinelli (9-Jesus 59').

Man United 1st Half (4-3-3, right to left): 22-Heaton (GK) – 29-Wan-Bissaka, 19-Varane, 6-L. Martinez, 23-Shaw – 8-Fernandes, 37-Mainoo, 7-Mount – 21-Antony, 25-Sancho, 49-Garnacho.

Man United 2nd Half (4-3-3, right to left): 22-Heaton (GK) – 20-Diogo Dalot, 5-Harry Maguire, 2-Victor Lindelof, 33-Brandon Williams – 18-Casemiro, 39-McTominay, 14-Eriksen – 16-A. Diallo (28-Pellistri 59'), 10-Rashford, 52-Forson.

Manchester United developing a swagger

Erik Ten Hag has a built-in excuse that his team doesn't have an established goal-scoring centre-forward just yet, but he doesn't look the type. That attitude carries over to his team, which finds a way no matter what it takes.

United attacked Arsenal in a few different manners, mixing over-the-top direct play with quick transition, and standard attacking buildup. They looked comfortable and confident in every scenario. And it started with physical play and solid defending, though Gabriel Martinelli had the one good look which he should've done better with.

On the attacking end, Jadon Sancho was the highest forward, but Bruno Fernandes was right behind him in support, and the two happened to score the goals. The wingers, including Marcus Rashford and Antony, didn't do much to stand out, but they still put in the work.

Man United exude the vibe of a healthy team, one in which everyone knows their roles and one with a culture of hard work and attitude. That's the team that Mason Mount will need to fit into, with an edge provided by Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro, which permeates the team. Holding midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, at just 18, also fits the mold.

Arsenal are still a young team

What should trouble Mikel Arteta more than any tactical aspects is the fact that Arsenal didn't fight back, and his players didn't show the fire that their coach had following the match.

"That I hate to lose. And we all hate to lose," Arteta said in his postgame press conference about what he learned most from the game. "That's the biggest lesson. I don't like losing and I don't like the feeling that I have right now.

"It's a test to see how painful it is even if it is a test match when you lose a game," he said at the start of his address. "I want to see the team hurting and how the team reacts after that defeat."

In fairness, between the afternoon heat and some heavy legs from the preseason workload, it's understandable that Arsenal could experience a game like Saturday's in which they were physically inferior to their opponent. But a reaction from the players — any reaction — could have served to at minimum send a message to a potential title rival. It's something that a Granit Xhaka would have taken on himself. Who does it now?

Arsenal need work

The 5-0 win over the MLS All-Stars on Wednesday — a team assembled at the last minute — may have sent a signal that Arsenal were farther along than they actually were. Against a different level of opposition on Saturday, they found out that they still have a ways to go. 

The starting midfield trio of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz struggled to leave a mark on the game outside of a handful of nice plays and passes from Odegaard, who along with Gabriel went the full 90. Arteta knows it's a work in progress.

"When they play 55 times together it will be better, it will flow better, they will understand each other better, and we will be dominant and better," Arteta said. "But it takes time and we have to respect that. I saw many good things, more than against the MLS All-Stars, even if the result is different."

Arsenal vs Man United live updates, highlights, commentary

Final: Arsenal 0-2 Man United

That random post-game penalty shootout did in fact happen, despite United having won the match fair and square 2-0. United won that shootout, too, 5-3, as Fabio Vieira's struggles for Arsenal continued. He was the only one to miss the mark.

  • Man United (5): Casemiro (goal), Dalot (goal), Lindelof (goal), Rashford (goal), Erikssen (goal)
  • Arsenal (3): Odegaard (goal), Trossard (goal), Vieira (high), Jorginho (goal)

90th min.: Chance Arsenal. More like a half-chance. A set piece was floated into the United box. Emile Smith Rowe got his head to rebound from the punchout, but he didn't get enough on it.

82nd min.: Official attendance: sellout crowd of 82,262. It's a record for a soccer match at MetLife Stadium.

79th min.: A really late hydration break being called.

78th min.: The MetLife press box is being informed that there will be a penalty kick shootout at the end of the match regardless of the result. It was agreed upon by the clubs. Fans in the stadium will be confused.

72nd min.: SUBS Arsenal. Slew of Gunners coming in. Leandro Trossard will play at left wing. Thomas Partey is now at right-back with Ben White moving into central defense.

67th min.: Chance Arsenal! Martin Odegaard lofts a cross into the United box, and Kai Havertz goes up for it, but his header is over the bar. Odegaard is upset they didn't make more of that look.

64th min.: Chance Man United! Diogo Dalot dances into the box on the right and his cross to the far post goes across the Arsenal goal mouth and Marcus Rashford doesn't attack the far post. He had a tap-in goal had he been more aggressive.

59th min.: SUBS Arsenal. Rice, Martinelli and Timber are off. Gabriel Jesus (centre-forward), Thomas Partey (holding mid), and Ben White (right-back) are in. Eddie Nketiah now goes wide left as he did against the MLS All-Stars.

SUB Man United. Facundo Pellistri is on for Amad Diallo, who only lasts 15 minutes before coming off injured.

56th min.: Injury stoppage. It's Amad Diallo who needs treatment, but he's back up, but he won't be able to continue.

46th min.: Second half is underway. There are subs. United send out a completely different team outside of goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

Arsenal brought in Kieran Tierney for Takehiro Tomiyasu. But Mikel Arteta sent the rest out to figure things out.

Halftime: Arsenal 0-2 Man United

Halftime: Manchester United were simply more pragmatic and effective in that half. They took what the game was giving them: When it was necessary to send a ball over the top, they did it. When they could pass wide or between the lines, they did it. With Bruno Fernandes popping up all over the front line, the danger was everpresent.

Arsenal miss Gabriel Jesus – Eddie Nketiah wasn't much of a factor and credit should also go to Man United's centre-backs for that. But the Gunners also seemed to want to find the perfect buildup and they were not interested in standing up to United, problem-solving, and battling through their difficulties.

In the end two defensive mistakes cost Arsenal, ruining a strong start. It's the first real adversity of the preseason for the Gunners.

This quote from United manager Erik Ten Hag is going to stay with him if United can see this one out.

45th min.: Two minutes of stoppage time.

44th min.: Lisando Martinez clatters into Bukayo Saka and the teams come together. The Arsenal players didn't appreciate the physicality. But that's Lisandro's game.

40th min.: Chance Man United. The Red Devils are feeling themselves and Arsenal can't come close to them. They're knocking the ball around in front of the Arsenal box and a shot is stopped by Ramsdale.

37th min.: Goal Man United! A long ball over the top sees Arsenal defender Gabriel whiff badly on the clearance and it goes right past him. Jadon Sancho does the rest and beats Ramsdale near post into the top corner. Arsenal are shaken.

30th min.: Goal Man United! Bruno Fernandes gets it. About 20 yards from goal, no Arsenal players stepped up to challenge and he unleashed a left-footed shot that skipped in front of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and past him. Quality shot.

28th min.: Tom Heaton has been sure of himself in goal for United. He snags a Bukayo Saka cross from the right and once again doesn't give up a rebound.

25th min.: Man United are keeping Arsenal in front of them. Neither team speeding things up in the heat. Man United players are stepping up on their Arsenal counterparts to challenge for the ball, not making life easy on the Gunners.

21st min.: Both teams effectively cancelling each other out in the last 10 minutes. No chances to speak of.

11th min.: Chance Arsenal! The ball goes from Bukayo Saka on the right to Gabriel Martinelli on the left and he gets two cracks, but Man United 'keeper Tom Heaton stops them both (they were also right at him).

7th min.: Chance Arsenal. Gabriel Martinelli on the left side converges and fires with his right, barely missing the crossbar. They gave him the space, and he took it.

5th min.: Chance Man United. The first big chance of the game falls to the Red Devils thanks to a ball over the top for a sprinting Bruno Fernandes, who picks out Antony in the box, but he scuffs his shot and it finishes wide right.

2nd min.: Arsenal tactics. There we go. When Arsenal are in possession, Jurrien Timber is in fact playing the John Stones role and moving up into midfield.

1st min.: Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes kicks off. No funny business on the Arsenal formation so far defensively. Looks like a back-four.

Kickoff

1 min. to kickoff: Teams are out on the field. Arsenal will be in their electric yellow kits and Man United in red tops, white shorts.

4 mins. to kickoff: U.S. national anthem gets played with the players still yet to show up on the field.

6 mins. to kickoff: There's plenty of speculation that Arsenal are actually going to line up with three centre-backs, and Jurrien Timber will flank Declan Rice at holding mid.

Mikel Arteta trying to out-Pep Pep. We saw it with Jakub Kiwior and Gabriel switching positions throughout in the game against the MLS All-Stars.

8 mins. to kickoff: Andre Onana is with the squad and he's warming up. But he's not on the matchday list. Based on a team sheet handed out in the press box, he'll be wearing 24.

10 mins. to kickoff: Man United were first on and they're first off getting ready to come out onto the field. Arsenal are still in action, so we're probably not going right at the top of the hour.

32 mins. to kickoff: Arsenal's field players run out for warmups, and everyone is out. There's not much space to maneuver in the Arsenal half of the field. It's a big preseason squad.

36 mins. to kickoff: Manchester United are first to take the field for warmups at sun-drenched MetLife Stadium. Arsenal's 'keepers are out, but no Gunners. The stadium will be a sellout but just about half-full right now.

1 hour to kickoff: Lineups are out for both teams. Newcomers Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice are in the starting lineup with Eddie Nketiah at center-forward. Nketiah deserved it with the performance he had against the MLS team.

1 hour to kickoff: Here's Manchester United's lineup with Kobbie Mainoo in the mix together with established starters Luke Shaw, Raphael Varane, and Antony.

2 hours to kickoff: No wonder more international tournaments continue to come to the USA. Arsenal vs. Manchester United will reportedly set a record:

Arsenal vs Man United lineups

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta makes changes at both fullback positions, as well as in the midfield three, where Declan Rice (for Jorginho), and Kai Havertz (for Leandro Trossard who's back training) get the nod alongside captain Martin Odegaard, who started on the bench last time out.

Arsenal lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Aaron Ramsdale (GK) — 12-Jurrien Timber, 2-William Saliba, 6-Gabriel, 18-Takehiro Tomiyasu — 8-Martin Odegaard, 41-Declan Rice, 29-Kai Havertz — 7-Bukayo Saka, 14-Eddie Nketiah, 11-Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal subs (16): 13-Alex Runarsson (GK), 31-Karl Hein (GK), 16-Rob Holding, 3-Kieran Tierney, 15-Jakub Kiwior, 4-Ben White, 32-Auston Trusty, 45-Amario Cozier-Duberry, 21-Fabio Vieira, 5-Thomas Partey, 20-Jorginho, 10-Emile Smith Rowe, 19-Leandro Trossard, 26-Folarin Balogun, 27-Marquinhos, 9-Gabriel Jesus.

After fielding mainly younger players in the first two friendlies of preseason, Erik Ten Hag is introducing some of his stars, who have made the trip to the USA. Bruno Fernandes, Antony, and Luke Shaw are among the players in the lineup, along with newcomer Mason Mount.

But Anthony Elanga, who's set for a move to Nottingham Forest, and goalkeepers Andre Onana and Dean Henderson are not in the squad, as is the case with Antony Martial. The only players who weren't on the flight to the USA are Fred (personal issue), Tyrell Malacia (injury), and 19-year-old centre-back Rhys Bennett (injury).

Man United lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 22-Tom Heaton (GK) – 29-Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 19-Raphael Varane, 6-Lisandro Martinez, 23-Luke Shaw – 8-Bruno Fernandes, 37-Kobbie Mainoo, 7-Mason Mount – 21-Antony, 25-Jadon Sancho, 49-Alejandro Garnacho.

Man United subs (20): 30-Nathan Bishop (GK), 40-Radek Vitek (GK), 20-Diogo Dalot, 2-Victor Lindelof, 5-Harry Maguire, 42-Alvaro Fernandez, 33-Brandon Williams, 46-Hannibal Mejbri, 18-Casemiro, 16-Amad Diallo, 39-Scott McTominay, 14-Christian Eriksen, 34-Donny van de Beek, 44-Dan Gore, 52-Omari Forson, 28-Facundo Pellistri, 10-Marcus Rashford.

Arsenal vs Man United live stream, TV channel

This preseason friendly takes place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA and kicks off on Saturday, July 22 at 5 p.m. local time.

MORE: Watch Premier League on Fubo in USA and on Fubo in Canada

  Date Kickoff time TV Streaming
USA Sat, July 22 5 p.m. ET ESPN,
ESPN Dep.		 Fubo, ESPN+
Canada Sat, July 22 5 p.m. ET   Arsenal.com, MUTV
UK Sat, July 22 10 p.m. BST MUTV Arsenal.com, MUTV
Australia Sun, July 23 7 a.m. AEST MUTV Arsenal.com, MUTV
India Sun, July 23 2:30 a.m. IST MUTV Arsenal.com, MUTV
Hong Kong Sun, July 23 5 a.m. HKT MUTV Arsenal.com, MUTV
Malaysia Sun, July 23 5 a.m. MYT MUTV Arsenal.com, MUTV
Singapore Sun, July 23 5 a.m. SGT MUTV Arsenal.com, MUTV
New Zealand Sun, July 23 9 a.m. NZST MUTV Arsenal.com, MUTV

USA: The match will be televised on ESPN (English) and ESPN Deportes (Spanish), which are both streamed on Fubo, available to new users on a free trial.

Rest of the world: Both clubs will provide live streaming coverage of this game available on Arsenal.com and MUTV for fans around the world. MUTV is also available as a TV channel for subscribers.

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.