Ruben Amorim sets clear challenge to Man Utd squad ahead of Arsenal as Benjamin Sesko point made

Ruben Amorim has insisted his Manchester United side "can do better" as preparations now turn to the Premier League opener against Arsenal next weekend.

The Red Devils ended an unbeaten pre-season with a 1-1 draw and shootout win against Fiorentina at Old Trafford on Saturday. Simon Sohm had put the away side in front from a corner early on before Robin Gosens put the ball into his own net from a Bruno Fernandes corner in the 25th minute.

There were 65,103 in attendance for the final match before the Premier League opener at home to Arsenal next Sunday, when Amorim will be hoping they make a stronger start than they did against the Serie A side. Manchester United celebrated the arrival of Benjamin Sesko before the match following his £73million arrival from RB Leipzig.

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The new United striker posed for a photo with fellow summer signings Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon and Bryan Mbeumo and all eyes will now be on if he features against the Gunners next week. “Today was a tough match," Amorim told MUTV after the match.

"It was important for us to take out the feeling of playing at Old Trafford out of the system, it was really good. I think we had some difficulties, especially in the beginning of the first half and the beginning of the second half. They have a lot of mobility and we struggled to find the right moment to press, but then we controlled the game.

"I think we had a lack of fluidity in the game, we can do better, but I think it was a perfect game of preparation to show us that we need to improve in different areas, that we are going to struggle in some moments. But sometimes we have players that can make a player to elevate the stadium.”

Amorim was asked about United's striker options and believes Cunha and Mbeumo can do better in the weeks and months ahead. “I think they [Cunha and Mbeumo] are maybe 50/60 per cent off what they can do," Amorim said.

"I think, like any other team, we are going to improve during the season, they are going to be so much better. In some moments I felt that we, because of the one-v-one in all the pitch, we struggle without a reference as a striker. We have a new player [Benjamin Sesko] so we’ll see.”

It could be a busy week at Carrington for Man Utd and Amorim has insisted the starting line-up for the game against Arsenal could change in the days ahead. “That [a selection headache] is a good thing, it is supposed to be like that, not like last season that we have to struggle to put 11 players on the pitch," the former Sporting boss said.

"This is the normal thing so I need to think and they [the players] need to fight during the week, so they can change my mind, I have an idea but they will change my mind during the week. It is going to be tough because we try to arrange a full week of training, so we will have two really strong sessions with time to work and then we are going to break a little bit and then two days to really think about the strategy for the game and we will be ready.”