According to a report by TBR on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Viktor Gyökeres is expected to make his competitive debut for Arsenal in their upcoming clash, with Mikel Arteta deciding whether to start the Swedish striker or introduce him from the bench. The £85 million signing from Sporting CP has already made an impression during pre-season, and fans are eager to see how he performs in a high-profile Premier League fixture.
On the other side, there’s equal anticipation over whether Manchester United’s new signing, Benjamin Šeško, will step onto the pitch wearing his #30 shirt at kick-off. The Slovenian forward, who joined from RB Leipzig for around £55 million, has yet to feature under new manager Ruben Amorim, making Sunday’s encounter a potential first glimpse of him in competitive action.
Arsenal themselves had tried to sign Šeško earlier this summer but missed out, with the 21-year-old choosing to be part of Amorim’s rebuilding project at Old Trafford. This adds an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup, as both clubs will be unveiling their big-name striker acquisitions.
Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has now weighed in with his thoughts ahead of the highly anticipated clash. Speaking on the It’s Called Soccer! podcast, Walcott — who faced United 15 times in the league during his career, winning just three of those encounters — believes Arteta’s side will edge it on opening weekend.
“I will go for a 1-0 win for Arsenal and I’m going for a Martinelli goal,” Walcott predicted. “I think they’re going to expose United [with a] domination of having the ball and I just think it’ll be a break goal and Arsenal’s defence [will be] pretty solid.”
Walcott’s confidence is backed by Arteta’s impressive track record against United. Since taking charge of Arsenal in December 2019, the Spaniard has recorded several notable wins over the Red Devils, including last season’s dramatic 3-1 victory at the Emirates. Arteta’s teams have often outplayed United in midfield battles, something he will hope to replicate on Sunday.
If the game unfolds as Walcott envisions, it would be the perfect start to the season for Arsenal, who are aiming to mount another serious title challenge. A win at Old Trafford would also send an early statement to rivals Manchester City, reminding them of the Gunners’ intent to go one better than last season’s second-place finish.