United prepare to add another fixture before new season match against Arsenal

Manchester United’s designated pre-season might be over, but Ruben Amorim could be set to add another game before the season-opener against Arsenal.

Five games for Manchester United in the pre-season have yielded three wins, two draws, and two “trophies”, making it a successful time.

More importantly, United have come through the pre-season without any major injuries, unlike the previous year when Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro were hit by setbacks.

Now, Ruben Amorim might just have provided a hint for his lineup against Arsenal by wanting to add another friendly game before the season begins against Arsenal.

Man Utd exploring prospect of playing a friendly

With Arsenal coming to Old Trafford on August 17, the pre-season ending on August 9 was the perfect time for the squad to work on recovery and match prep.

However, Amorim might have prioritised getting some minutes into the legs of all his players because they are exploring the prospect of adding another game before Arsenal.

As per The Times, Amorim wants to give Andre Onana and Benjamin Sesko some ‘real-world’ training that can only happen against a competitive opponent.

Neither of those players has played a single minute of United’s pre-season. Onana is working his way back to fitness, while Sesko signed just in time to be unveiled at Old Trafford for the last pre-season game.

Therefore, the club wants to get them going in a United kit this season before the marquee kickoff on the first matchday against Arsenal.

Altay Bayindir hasn’t entirely convinced in goal, while Amorim spoke about a striker reference missing after the Fiorentina game.

Those two factors, combined with this decision, mean that Amorim is ready to take a calculated gamble against Arsenal. 

Andre Onana and Benjamin Sesko set for start against Arsenal

It wouldn’t be ideal for Amorim, considering he didn’t deem Bryan Mbeumo match-fit for two games despite the player traveling with the squad and training in the USA.

But the need of the hour is too urgent, since the goalkeeper and striker are where the difference in the quality of the first-choice and the quality of the backup is too big.

Amorim urgently wants Sesko and Onana to shake some rust off because he’s set to start them against Arsenal despite both missing every pre-season game.

If it were any other position, the Man Utd manager would have been careful, like he was with Mbeumo or even Matheus Cunha.

However, the strength of the opposition and the make-up of the squad mean that Sesko and Onana are not a luxury; they are a necessity.

Regardless of who it is played against, the fans will be salivating for details of the behind-closed-doors friendly.

Sesko wouldn’t have thought his Man Utd debut would come that way!