{"id":60644,"date":"2025-08-11T04:31:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T04:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/60644\/"},"modified":"2025-08-11T04:31:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T04:31:08","slug":"man-utd-plan-secret-friendly-to-get-two-players-ready-for-arsenal-clash-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/60644\/","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd plan secret friendly to get two players ready for Arsenal clash | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Manchester
\n\t\tNew Manchester United signing Benjamin Sesko (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Manchester United<\/a> are looking into the possibility of holding a behind-closed-doors friendly this week to get two players ready for their Premier League<\/a> opener against Arsenal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ruben Amorim<\/a>\u2019s side kick-start their 2025-26 Premier League campaign with a mouth-watering clash with Mikel Arteta\u2019s Arsenal next weekend.<\/p>\n

United concluded their official pre-season schedule with a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina on Saturday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Manchester United\u2019s pre-season also included games against Premier League rivals Leeds United, West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton.<\/p>\n

Speaking after the Fiorentina game, Amorim said he \u2018had an idea\u2019 of the team he would pick to face Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tYour ultimate guide to the football season\t\t\t<\/p>\n

In The Mixer: Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week \u2013 sign up<\/a>, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n

However, he also urged his players to show \u2018fight\u2019 in training this week to \u2018change his mind\u2019.<\/p>\n

Many of those players may be given a final chance to stake their claim in a behind-closed-doors friendly that Manchester United are considering organising.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Manchester
\n\t\tRuben Amorim is preparing for United\u2019s Premier League opener (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

According to The Times<\/a>, United are exploring the viability of a game at Carrington against a \u2018local rival\u2019 to give Benjamin Sesko and Andre Onana some \u2018real world\u2019 training.<\/p>\n

Sesko was unveiled to Manchester United fans at Old Trafford on Sunday following his \u00a374m move from RB Leipzig<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen whether Sesko starts against Arsenal next week given he will barely have any training sessions with his new teammates.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tRuben Amorim happy to have ‘selection headaches’\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\u2018That [a selection headache] is a good thing, it is supposed to be like that, not like last season that we have to struggle to put 11 players on the pitch.<\/p>\n

\u2018This is the normal thing so I need to think and they [the players] need to fight during the week, so they can change my mind, I have an idea but they will change my mind during the week.<\/p>\n

\u2018It is going to be tough because we try to arrange a full week of training, so we will have two really strong sessions with time to work and then we are going to break a little bit and then two days to really think about the strategy for the game and we will be ready.\u2019<\/p>\n

Ruben Amorim speaking after Manchester United\u2019s final pre-season friendly against Fiorentina<\/p>\n

Amorim opted to play Mason Mount as a false nine against Fiorentina, with Rasmus Hojlund left on the bench ahead of his likely transfer exit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As well as giving Sesko some game-time, a behind-closed-doors friendly would also give Onana the chance to prove his fitness after he missed the entirety of pre-season with a hamstring injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Manchester United believe Onana should be fit for Arsenal\u2019s trip to the Theatre of Dreams, but if not Altay Bayindir\u00a0will have to cover United\u2019s No. 1.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Manchester
\n\t\tAndre Onana has been out with a hamstring injury (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

But neither Onana or Bayindir have inspired confidence and United have shown interest in a number of new goalkeepers during the summer transfer window<\/a>.<\/p>\n

An ex-Manchester United goalkeeper, David de Gea, hopes his former club can \u2018do something big\u2019 this season following the signings of Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.<\/p>\n

\u2018Sometimes this is football, you can\u2019t win all the time,\u2019 De Gea said after his emotional return to Old Trafford with Fiorentina. \u2018I know it\u2019s been some years that United struggle a bit but it\u2019s one of the best clubs in the world.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a massive club and hopefully this year with the new signings and the manager starting a new era they can do something big and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n

\u2018Hopefully this year they can win something and be there where they deserve.\u2019<\/p>\n

Manchester United\u2019s first Premier League opponents Arsenal finished third for the third year in a row last season.<\/p>\n

The Gunners have spent around \u00a3200m on new recruits this summer, bringing the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke to the Emirates Stadium.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
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