Manchester United boss Reuben Amorim confirmed that Andre Onana was healthy enough to face Arsenal in the Premier League opener, but chose not to include him. The £47 million goalkeeper was particularly absent from United’s match-day team due to a clash with Mikel Arteta’s gunner at Old Trafford.
The 29-year-old Onana had been on the sidelines with a hamstring injury since early July, but lost all of United’s pre-season games. Nevertheless, both the players and the club were hoping to be ready to start a season between the sticks on Amorim’s side.
However, Onana’s recovery has not progressed completely smoothly, and has only been trained a few times since he was allowed to spend the early part of Sunday working alone at United’s Carrington training grounds.
Nevertheless, Amorim had claimed before the match that it was his decision to omit the previous Inter Milan Stopper, and that his injury was not a factor and that Onana was a perfect fit. He states: “We choose the best players in each game, so next week is a different life.
“We chose these players this week. No (he’s not injured), he’s recovered, but the others did well during the preseason, so I need to balance it.”
Onana’s future at Old Trafford has been the subject of speculation this summer, following two seasons that have not lived up to expectations, consistent with United’s worst two campaigns during the Premier League era.
Before kickoff, Onana was found in a tunnel with Rasmus Hojlund, which appears to depart more and more before the transfer window closes.
Benjamin Sesko, a new £74 million acquisition from RB Leipzig, finds himself among the alternatives as he chose to roll out another rookie, Matheus Cunha, as his biggest forward player.
“Ben (Sesco) had a really good week, but he’s only been here for a week,” Amorim said. “It was four or five days that he wasn’t training. He signed a lot of emotions, training, culture, new contracts, new people. First impressions are important.
