MANCHESTER – In a day that saw Arsenal grind out a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford, the biggest talking point may have come not from the goalscorer, but from a surprising admission by Arsenal’s defensive titan, William Saliba. In a candid post-match interview, the French international revealed he had been completely blindsided by the raw, aggressive talent of one of Manchester United’s new signings, admitting he had previously underrated the player.
The match itself was a tense, back-and-forth affair, a true test of wills between two of the Premier League’s most ambitious sides. While Arsenal walked away with the three points, thanks to a first-half goal, it was by no means a comfortable win. As reports from the game and player ratings suggest, Arsenal’s defense, usually a bastion of calm and control, was put under immense pressure, particularly by United’s new-look attack.
The catalyst for this pressure was none other than Matheus Cunha, the Brazilian forward signed this summer from Wolverhampton Wanderers. While United’s other new forward, Benjamin Sesko, was also a threat, it was Cunha who truly rattled the Arsenal backline. He was a whirlwind of energy, a constant menace with his intelligent runs and physical presence, and he gave both William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães a surprisingly difficult time.
In a moment of pure, unscripted honesty, Saliba confessed to a reporter, “I once underrated him but the way he turned me in the 16-yard box today still surprised me. In my career, I have never faced such a dangerously aggressive player before.”
This is a statement of immense significance. Saliba is widely regarded as one of the best young defenders in world football. He has faced some of the most fearsome attackers on the planet, from Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in the Premier League to Kylian Mbappé and other elite talents on the international stage. For him to single out Cunha, a player he presumably judged from afar during his time at Wolves, is a testament to the Brazilian’s performance.
The moment Saliba was likely referring to occurred in the first half when Cunha, who has a knack for individual brilliance, skipped past multiple Arsenal defenders and broke into the penalty area. Only a crucial, fingertip save from Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya prevented United from equalizing. It was a flash of genius that showed the explosive potential of Cunha and provided a clear example of the “dangerously aggressive” style Saliba described.
The comments also underscore a key takeaway from United’s performance: despite the defeat, they showed significant signs of improvement under new manager Ruben Amorim. The team’s new attacking trio, including Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko, looked cohesive and dynamic. Their fluid movement and relentless pressing created chances that were simply absent in much of the previous season.
For Manchester United fans, Saliba’s praise is a silver lining on an otherwise disappointing result. It validates the club’s summer transfer strategy and offers a strong sense of optimism for the season ahead. It suggests that while the result may not have gone their way, they have acquired a player who can genuinely compete with and challenge the very best defenders in the league.
For Arsenal, the match and Saliba’s comments serve as a valuable wake-up call. They may have secured a win, but the performance of United’s new signings, and Cunha in particular, exposed a few defensive vulnerabilities. It is a reminder that in a league as competitive as the Premier League, there is no room for complacency, and every match is a battle against the best in the world.
The gloves may have been metaphorically off in the Cunha-Amorim disagreement, but on the pitch, they were firmly on, and Matheus Cunha proved to the football world, and one of its best defenders, that he is a force to be reckoned with.
