Ace Don the way to United
READY FOR TAK OFF
■
Liverpool looked pretty unsettled too – by Arsenal’s canny counterattacking style and switching of shape in and out of possession.
It was Arsenal’s bravery on the ball that put them in front as Arteta’s risk-taking at the back allowed them to play out, break the press, and go a goal up.
For a moment, the Gunners looked like peak Manchester City and you could see exactly what Pep Guardiola’s former pupil is trying to achieve. Takumi Minamino’s first goal in English football got Liverpool back in the game but Arsenal had chances to win before Rhian Brewster (inset) missed in the shoot-out.
That allowed Aubameyang to settle it – and this time he made no mistake lifting the trophy after dropping the FA Cup this month.
Arteta is building something good at Arsenal.
But his starting line-up could look very different once the season is under way.
New signings Willian, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, once confirmed, are all set to step into this team.
Arteta says it is Champions League or bust this season. His side have the potential – and will be fun to watch.
TAKUMI MINAMINO is finally ready to tear up the Premier League according to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
The Japan international scored his first goal in English football during Saturday’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal in his 15th appearance for the champions.
It’s been a tough start to life at Anfield for Minamino, who joined in January from Red Bull Salzburg in a deal worth £7.2m.
But after struggling to adapt to life in England amid the coronavirus lockdown, Klopp (inset) believes the 25-year-old’s goal at Wembley can spur him on.
The Liverpool boss said: “It was big for him and for us.
“The only thing he lacked since he was with us is that he didn’t score a goal. The goal is more or less the logical step up after performing at the level he performs now, especially in the pre-season. So I am very pleased for him.
“It was very important for him just to make his first important step.
“He can have an impact. That’s why we signed him. He’s a player who is really useful for us. “He came in during the most difficult period of all our lives, I would say.
“He had to adapt to different things being alone in England in the lockdown and all that stuff. “That’s not nice but he dealt with it really well because he’s a super professional. So I’m really pleased for him that he scored the goal.”
MANCHESTER UNITED have won the race to sign Ajax’s Donny van de Beek after Spurs failed with an 11th-hour bid to snatch him.
The Dutch midfielder, 23, will arrive at Old Trafford in a £40m deal in the coming days after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer launched a charm offensive to land a player who was also a target for Barcelona and Real Madrid.
United’s chief negotiator Matt Judge moved in to seal an agreement with the Holland international yesterday after being alerted to Spurs’ attempt to swoop in.
Van de Beek has agreed a five-year deal – with the option of an extra 12 months.
He has told friends in Amsterdam that Solskjaer’s determination to sign him was the key factor in his decision.
Van de Beek was impressed with the vision the United boss described to him about the direction the Reds are heading after finishing third last season to return to the Champions League.
He refused to play in Ajax’s friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday after learning that United were preparing to firm up their interest with an official bid.
He seemed bound for Real Madrid earlier this summer when they agreed a £44.6m fee.
But the deal fell apart when the coronavirus crisis struck.
And although new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman indicated that he wanted to take Van de Beek to the Nou Camp, they are in turmoil following Lionel Messi’s announcement that he wants to leave.
Van de Beek believes his style will be more suited to English football and United used their close links with former keeper Edwin van der Sar, Ajax’s chief exec, to move the deal on.