After three league matches, United have already shown plenty of attacking promise, but they have also conceded six goals and collected just four points. Arsenal and Manchester City, meanwhile, have both won their opening three matches and sit on nine points.
That five-point gap is becoming a fascinating reminder of one of football’s oldest truths: you cannot simply outscore every problem.
United’s attacking options now look frightening on paper. Marcus Rashford, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko give Michael Carrick several different profiles to work with, while Bruno Fernandes continues to provide creativity and goals from midfield.
The evidence is already there. Mbeumo scored against Everton, while Sesko came off the bench to put United 2-1 ahead late in the match. Bruno Fernandes also struck the bar as United created enough opportunities to win the game.
But then came the problem that has followed United into this new campaign.
They could not protect the lead.
Everton equalised in the 96th minute through Ainsley Maitland-Niles, turning what looked like another important United victory into a frustrating 2-2 draw.
That is where the comparison with Arsenal and Manchester City becomes uncomfortable.
Arsenal have won all three of their opening matches and conceded just one goal. Manchester City have also won all three and conceded only two. United, by contrast, have already conceded six.
So even if United’s attack can match or potentially surpass the attacking threat of their rivals, the defensive difference is already showing up on the table.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous philosophy about attacking winning games and defending winning titles still feels painfully relevant.
United do not necessarily need to become a team that scores four goals every weekend. They need to become a team that knows how to protect a 1-0 lead, manage a 2-1 advantage and close games when the pressure arrives.
The warning signs are impossible to ignore. Gary Neville has already criticised United’s defensive organisation after the Everton collapse, while reports have highlighted concerns about the decision not to add another defender during the summer window.
And that is the biggest challenge facing Carrick.
The attacking pieces are there. The creativity is there. The goals are coming.
But football at the highest level is often decided by what happens after you score.
Arsenal and City are demonstrating that perfectly right now. United have the weapons to hurt almost anybody, but until they learn how to stop hurting themselves, those five points could become a much bigger gap.
The attack may be good enough to challenge the best.
The defence will determine whether Manchester United actually can.
