Matheus Cunha delivered an electric Manchester United debut that offered genuine hope for the club's attacking revival, despite another frustrating 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford. The Brazilian forward's performance stood out as a beacon of positivity amid United's continued struggles under manager Ruben Amorim.
Cunha recorded four shots and four successful dribbles in an impressive first appearance, constantly threatening Arsenal's defence with his pace and unpredictability. His willingness to take on defenders and drive into the heart of Arsenal's backline provided exactly the attacking intent that United have been missing this season.
Expert praise for debut impact
Daniel Sturridge declared Cunha the "best player on the pitch" following his debut performance, according to Metro. The former England striker predicted the Brazilian would become "a special player for the team" based on his immediate impact and attacking threat.
Amorim praised his new signings for bringing fresh energy to Old Trafford, noting that players like Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo "can elevate the stadium" and help United avoid being "boring." The Portuguese manager expressed pride in his team's improved attacking performance despite the disappointing result.
Record-breaking struggles continue
The defeat marked Amorim's 15th loss in just 28 Premier League games as United manager. This represents the fastest a manager has reached 15 defeats in the competition without taking charge of a newly promoted team since Paul Hart with Portsmouth in 2009.
United's £200m summer investment in attack featured three new signings making their debuts, according to Mirror. Cunha, Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko all started as Amorim looked to transform United's forward line after last season's disappointing goal tally.
Attacking transformation taking shape
Amorim believes his team showed they "can win any game in the Premier League" despite the defeat, describing United as "the better team" on the day. The manager's optimism reflects the improved attacking intent and pressing that Cunha and the other new signings brought to the performance.
The Brazilian's all-action display reminded many of his standout performance against United during the 2023-24 campaign when playing for Wolves. Senior figures at the club never forgot that electric showing, which ultimately influenced their decision to secure his signature this summer.
Sources used: "The Independent", "The Standard", "Metro", "Mirror"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
