Manchester United Suffer Early Injuries in 2-1 US Tour Defeat to Arsenal
Manchester United’s US tour got off to a rocky start as they lost 2-1 to Premier League rivals Arsenal in Los Angeles, with new signings Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro both suffering first-half injuries.
Hojlund, who had given United an early lead, and Yoro, the club’s recent £52 million acquisition, were both forced off the pitch, raising concerns for manager Erik ten Hag ahead of the new Premier League season.
The Danish striker opened the scoring in the 10th minute, displaying his strength and composure as he latched onto Marcus Rashford’s first-time pass, outmuscled young defender Ayden Heaven, and slotted the ball through Arsenal keeper Karl Hein’s legs. However, Hojlund's promising start was cut short after 15 minutes due to a muscle injury, preventing him from continuing.
Equally troubling was the injury to 18-year-old defender Yoro, who joined United from Lille just 10 days ago. Yoro went down in the first half and required lengthy treatment before deciding he could not continue.
These setbacks come as a major concern for Ten Hag, who dealt with a slew of injuries last season. With less than three weeks until United's Premier League opener against Fulham at Old Trafford on August 16, the loss of two key players in such a manner is far from ideal.
"We have to wait 24 hours and then we will hopefully know more," Ten Hag told MUTV. "We were very careful, especially with Leny. It is disappointing he had to come off but let's be positive and see what comes out."
Despite United's bright start, the match ended in disappointment for the Dutch manager. Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus equalized with a close-range finish after 25 minutes, a goal Ten Hag believed should have been disallowed for offside. The decisive moment came when substitute Gabriel Martinelli cut inside 17-year-old rookie full-back James Scanlon to score the winner.
While the match result was unsatisfactory, United did find some solace in a pre-arranged penalty shoot-out that followed the game. Jadon Sancho scored the decisive spot-kick, sealing a 4-3 win for United in the shoot-out.
As the pre-season tour continues, Ten Hag will be hoping for positive news regarding Hojlund and Yoro's injuries, aiming to avoid a repeat of last season's injury woes as United prepare for the new campaign.
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