Arsenal defeats Manchester United, 2-1, at SoFi Stadium

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- A nearly indistinguishable sea of red fans filled the stands of SoFi Stadium as English Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal FC battled for summertime supremacy in the highly anticipated Rivals in Red USA event in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 27. Arsenal ultimately won 2-1 as two of their Brazilian stars Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli scored to lift them past Manchester United’s single goal scored by Rasmus Høljund.

Unlike most of the 62,486 fans in attendance donning red and white around the 2026 FIFA World Cup venue, the two teams on the pitch were stark opposites. Manchester United wore their retro 90's Indigo Blue, while Arsenal wore their historical red and white kits emblazoned with the Gunner cannon. 

Manchester United suffered two early injuries that stifled their attacking efforts as Høljund and their newest signing Leny Yoro were both subbed off in the first half. Arsenal, for their part, showed a cohesive and building attack throughout the first and second halves, dominating possession, while still asserting their defensive prowess, a highlight of their style last season in which they compiled the least goals conceded in the league. 

Ten minutes into the action, Manchester United, looking every bit as intense as Arsenal, lit the first match as Marcus Rashford teamed up with Højlund to help the young Danish international shoot past Arsenal’s Karl Hein to take a quick 1-0 lead.

Fifteen minutes later, Arsenal replied with a resounding equalizer. Gabriel Jesus, on the tail end of a passing sequence between Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri received a beautiful ball in front of the box. His accuracy and speed overpowered Manchester United’s Andre Onana.

In the second half, Manchester United’s manager Erik Ten Hag made 10 substitutions, calling in for reinforcements with haste. But Arsenal were able to hold out and they scored the game winner in the 81st minute, when Martinelli, evaded Manchester United’s defenses, sending a right-footed shot straight into the center of the box off an assist from Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Soccer in the United States is at peak levels two years ahead of co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Friendlies, like the Rivals in Red, serve as a thermometer for gauging the popularity of a sport that has taken decades to take root and become one of the majors in a nation dominated by NFL, NBA and MLB. “Well, it's evolving and growing in the right direction because the teams in the MLS, they’re becoming more and more competitive,” said Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta. “They're becoming more attractive, they are able to hold now big competitions, so it is attracting a lot of attention into the country, and they have an unbelievable foundation. In a few years I think it will be one of the leaders as well in soccer,” Arteta concluded.

Underscoring the relevancy of a friendly, was the quality and seriousness expected from two of the world’s oldest soccer clubs. It’s especially true for Arsenal as they look to perform beyond their second consecutive 2nd place finish in one of the top leagues in the world. At this point, each match, friendly or not, is a moment and chance to excel, to grow, to build opportunity and finesse, a quality they will need if they wish to topple a stalwart Manchester City. Their preseason tour in the United States continues on to Philadelphia where they face Liverpool on Wednesday, August 4 at Lincoln Financial Field. Manchester United also compete against Liverpool, on August 3rd at Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina.

“There are a lot of things on the table, and you could see it,” said Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta. “I think both teams are the same; I think Manchester United as well, they competed at the highest level as well, and this is what you want as well. You want to get well prepared for the match that we have in the league and in the Champions League.”

The English Premier League season commences on August 16.