Striker Rasmus Hojlund and £52m new recruit Leny Yoro both picked up injuries in the first half as Manchester United fell 2-1 to Premier League rivals Arsenal in their opening US tour match in Los Angeles.
Hojlund had put United ahead in the 10th minute, racing onto Marcus Rashford’s pass, outpouring young defender Ayden Heaven, and slotting a shot past goalkeeper Karl Hein through his legs.
Hojlund missed a close-range chance, turning a low Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross wide, before appearing to suffer a muscle injury after 15 minutes, forcing him to leave the field.
Yoro’s departure was similarly straightforward. The 18-year-old defender, who had just joined United from Lille a week ago, required extended treatment after going down and was unable to continue.
With last season’s injury crisis still fresh in manager Erik ten Hag’s mind, losing two key players in this way less than three weeks before Manchester United’s Premier League opener against Fulham on August 16 is far from ideal.
“We need to wait 24 hours, and then we should have more information,” Ten Hag told MUTV.
“We were very cautious, especially with Leny. It’s disappointing that he had to be substituted, but let’s stay positive and see what the results are.”
Despite the promising beginning, the outcome didn’t satisfy the Dutch manager either.
Gabriel Jesus equalized with a close-range finish after 25 minutes, a goal Erik ten Hag felt should have been disallowed for offside. Substitute Gabriel Martinelli then dribbled past 17-year-old rookie full-back James Scanlon to score the winning goal.
However, United emerged victorious in the subsequent penalty shoot-out, with Jadon Sancho netting the decisive spot-kick for a 4-3 win.
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Injury Concerns for Ten Hag
In his pre-match news conference, Ten Hag highlighted the intense demands on players this season, describing the campaign as a “survival of the fittest” and acknowledging that injuries were inevitable. The reality hit hard when both Hojlund and Yoro were forced to leave the field.
In his pre-match news conference, Ten Hag emphasized the high demands placed on players this season, describing it as a “survival of the fittest” and acknowledging that injuries were an expected part of the campaign trang cá cược bóng đá.
The situation likely surpassed his worst fears as first Hojlund and then Yoro were forced off with injuries.
Hojlund seemed to suffer a groin issue before heading straight down the tunnel, while Yoro, after receiving extended treatment, took a slower route off the pitch, visibly distressed and walking with noticeable discomfort.
Victor Lindelof was also unavailable due to a minor injury, which led to 20-year-old Rhys Bennett, fresh from a loan spell at Stockport during the latter half of last season, stepping in alongside Harry Maguire in defense.
While injuries were a setback, a bright spot for Ten Hag was the impressive performance of midfielder Mason Mount.
The former Chelsea player, who spent as much time on the treatment table as on the pitch last season, showcased his old form in front of over 60,000 fans. Mount consistently looked like a genuine threat throughout the game.
Arsenal hitting their stride
Just like in the match against Bournemouth four days prior, Emile Smith Rowe was absent from the Arsenal squad as talks about a potential transfer to Fulham continue.
Riccardo Calafiori is set to be announced as a new signing within the next 48 hours, and with England stars Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka to rejoin the squad upon their return to London, Arsenal’s lineup will soon look quite different from what was seen in this match.
However, at times, they demonstrated a fluidity in possession that their opponents struggled to match.
Much to his manager’s frustration, a promising move was cut short when captain Martin Ødegaard seemed to be taken out by Bennett, with no free-kick awarded.
Jesus was especially lively for Arsenal, and Martinelli, recently back from Copa America duty with Brazil, posed a constant threat from the moment he entered the match with 19 minutes remaining.
By then, Jonny Evans was the sole experienced figure in United’s defense, and the Brazilian capitalized on this to secure the victory.
“One training session and he comes in and performs at that level,” remarked Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “That’s the mentality of both the team and individuals.
“Gabriel looks extremely sharp. He has made significant improvements over the summer. You can see it in his appearance, his rhythm, and his sharpness.
“You can see it in his eyes. There’s a spark there. Now he has a point to prove, and that’s a positive thing.”
What was the condition of the pitch for the Arsenal vs. Man Utd match?
The match was held on a grass pitch specifically grown for this game, which will be removed on Monday to ready the stadium for upcoming events Thapcamtv.
Stadium officials described the move as cost-effective, but when questioned about the environmental impact, they admitted that efforts to find another party to reuse the pitch had been unsuccessful.
